KATHMANDU: The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has issued a warning for 27 districts across Koshi, Madhesh, and Bagmati provinces, cautioning that rainfall triggered by Cyclone Montha — which has developed in the Bay of Bengal — could cause river levels to rise.

According to the department, there is a high risk of sudden flooding in small rivers flowing through several districts — including Kathmandu Valley, Kavre, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Makwanpur, Chitwan, and Sindhuli in Bagmati Province; Bara, Parsa, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Mahottari, Dhanusha, and Saptari in Madhesh Province; and Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, Panchthar, Tehrathum, Bhojpur, Dhankuta, Ilam, Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari in Koshi Province.

The department warned that due to heavy rainfall and snowfall, there is a possibility of sudden river surges, landslides, and other hazards, which could affect daily life, road and air transport, agriculture, and tourism sectors.

Issuing a special weather bulletin on Wednesday afternoon, the department urged the public to remain alert.
It predicted heavy rainfall in some areas of Madhesh and Koshi provinces from Thursday afternoon through Saturday.

Meteorologists define heavy rainfall as precipitation between 50 and 100 millimeters within 24 hours, while moderate rainfall — expected in Bagmati Province — refers to precipitation between 10 and 50 millimeters.

The department further forecasted light rainfall in some parts of the eastern areas of Gandaki and Lumbini provinces, and moderate snowfall in high-altitude and Himalayan regions of Koshi and Bagmati provinces, as well as a few places in the high Himalayan areas of Gandaki Province.

Based on current weather analysis, the department said water levels in the Bagmati, Kamala, Koshi, and Kankai rivers and their tributaries are expected to rise significantly.