Nepal on high alert as severe weather threatens floods, landslides and travel disruptions

KATHMANDU,: Nepal has been placed on high alert as a severe weather system is expected to affect large parts of the country from September 24 to 28, bringing the risk of heavy to very heavy rainfall, flash floods, landslides, inundation and snowfall in high-altitude areas.

The Nepal Meteorological Department has warned that intensified monsoon activity could affect daily life, road and air travel, while rivers and streams may rise rapidly. Heavy to very heavy and, in some areas, extremely heavy rainfall is expected during the period, particularly across several provinces.

The deteriorating weather has already begun affecting domestic air services. Several flights are operating two to three hours behind schedule, with passengers facing long waits at airports. Flights on the Kathmandu–Bhadrapur sector are also being affected by adverse weather conditions.

The official Tribhuvan International Airport flight information shows multiple domestic services delayed or cancelled due to weather, including mountain flights.

Passengers have been advised to check with their respective airlines and airports before travelling, as flight schedules may change depending on visibility and weather conditions.

Meanwhile, a Sita Air aircraft suffered an incident while landing at Jufal Airport in Dolpa on Thursday morning.

The aircraft, bearing call sign 9N-AJH, was landing at around 8:25 am when its rear right-side tyre came off. The aircraft was carrying 13 passengers, including seven foreign nationals.

Officials said all passengers were safe and no injuries were reported. The aircraft remained on the runway, temporarily disrupting operations at Jufal Airport. A Nepal Army aircraft approaching the airport was also forced to turn back.

A technical team and spare parts are being prepared to travel from Kathmandu to Jufal by helicopter to inspect and repair the aircraft. Authorities will decide after inspection whether the aircraft can be repaired in Dolpa or needs to be taken to Nepalgunj or Kathmandu.

The weather warning comes at a time when several highways remain vulnerable to landslides and flood-related disruption. The Department of Roads has placed more than 240 heavy machines and technical teams on standby at sensitive locations to clear potential blockages and restore traffic quickly.

In some areas, authorities have already imposed restrictions on vehicular movement because of the increased risk of landslides. On the BP Highway in Kavre, night-time vehicle movement has been restricted from 5 pm to 5 am for four days amid the heavy-rain forecast.

With bus services and air travel being affected, passengers across Nepal are facing uncertainty over their journeys. Authorities are urging people to monitor weather and road conditions and avoid unnecessary travel through vulnerable areas during periods of intense rainfall.

The September 24-28 period is expected to remain critical, particularly for flood-prone river valleys, landslide-prone hill roads and high-altitude regions.