KATHMANDU: Seventeen disaster incidents across Nepal in the last 24 hours have resulted in three deaths and 14 injuries, with economic damages reaching Rs 5.045 million. Shanti Mahat, spokesperson for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Nepal’s central body for natural disaster risk reduction and management, provided this information on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
The injured are currently receiving treatment in hospitals in their respective districts, according to the NDRRMA.
Incidents reported across multiple provinces
The reported incidents include snakebites in Siraha (Madhesh Province), Nawalparasi East (Gandaki Province), Banke (Lumbini Province), Kailali (Sudurpashchim Province), and Dadeldhura (Sudurpashchim Province). Landslides occurred in Okhaldhunga (Koshi Province), Salyan (Karnali Province), Baglung (Gandaki Province), and Pyuthan (Lumbini Province).
Fire incidents were recorded in Dhanusha (Madhesh Province), Bhaktapur (Bagmati Province), Chitwan (Bagmati Province), and Lamjung (Gandaki Province). Bardiya (Lumbini Province) experienced strong winds, while Kailali (Sudurpashchim Province) and Kaski (Gandaki Province) reported lightning strikes. Additionally, an animal attack was reported in Jhapa (Koshi Province).
Madhesh Province, in particular, saw various disaster events, including snakebites in Siraha and fire incidents in Dhanusha. The region has historically been vulnerable to such events; on July 23, 2025, Madhesh Province was declared a disaster-stricken area for three months due to drought and water scarcity. Experts attribute this to the destruction of the Chure region and changes in rainfall patterns.
Authority issues public warning
The NDRRMA has urged the public to exercise high caution as disaster incidents may recur in various locations due to changing weather patterns. The authority advises individuals at risk to coordinate with local administrations, security agencies, and relevant bodies to move to safe locations. Heavy rainfall has been forecasted in some parts of the country for Tuesday, October 6, and Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
Disaster management efforts and challenges
The NDRRMA was established on November 15, 2019, to serve as Nepal’s central resource body for natural disaster risk reduction and management. Nepal has developed a robust policy and legal framework for disaster management, including the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, 2017, and the Disaster Management Regulations, 2019. The country is also a signatory to international commitments such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Major disaster events, such as the 2015 Gorkha earthquake and the floods and landslides of 2014 and 2017, underscored the critical need for effective disaster management. Experts have suggested restructuring Nepal’s disaster management system and establishing a dedicated Ministry of Disaster Management and Climate Resilience. For more information on past disaster impacts, see our earlier coverage on 64 deaths in Dolakha due to natural disasters in two months and government plans to amend the act for death registration of those missing in Bhote Koshi-Trishuli disaster.
Unanswered questions remain
The names, ages, and nationalities of the three deceased and 14 injured individuals have not been disclosed. The detailed causes of the fire, landslide, strong wind, lightning, and animal attack incidents, as well as their specific locations within the districts, have not been clarified. Further information regarding the health status of the injured is also unavailable at this time.
