Floods in Nepal have resulted in the deaths of at least 148 people, according to authorities on Sunday.

Residents of Nepal’s flood-stricken capital returned to their homes, now caked in mud, on Sunday to assess the extensive damage caused by severe floods that have claimed at least 148 lives across the country. The Himalayan nation frequently experiences deadly rain-related floods and landslides during the monsoon season, which lasts from June to September. However, experts have noted that climate change is exacerbating both the frequency and severity of these natural disasters.

Over the weekend, entire neighborhoods in Kathmandu were submerged, with flash floods reported in the rivers flowing through the city. The floods caused significant damage to highways, effectively isolating Kathmandu from the rest of Nepal. Kumar Tamang, a resident of a slum located by a riverbank, recounted to AFP the terrifying experience of having to flee his home at midnight on Saturday as the waters surged into his shelter.

"This morning we returned and everything looks different," the 40-year-old Tamang shared. "We couldn't even open the doors to our house; they were jammed with mud. Yesterday, we were afraid that the water would kill us, but today we have no water to clean."

According to Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the flood-related death toll has reached 148, with another 63 individuals reported missing. Rishi Ram Tiwari, a spokesperson for the Home Ministry, informed AFP that bulldozers were actively clearing debris from several blocked highways, which had severed connections between Kathmandu and other regions of the country.

Tragically, at least 14 victims were passengers on two buses that were buried alive when a landslide cascaded onto a highway south of Kathmandu. Dhading district chief Rajendra Dev Pandey confirmed the grim details to AFP. The valley encompassing the capital recorded an astonishing 240 millimeters (9.4 inches) of rain within 24 hours up to Saturday morning, marking the highest rainfall in Kathmandu since at least 1970, as reported by the country’s weather bureau to the Kathmandu Post.

The Bagmati River and its numerous tributaries overflowed, inundating adjacent homes and vehicles after midnight on Saturday. Residents waded through chest-deep water in search of higher ground. Bishnu Maya Shrestha, another resident of an affected area in Kathmandu, described the harrowing escape from her flooded home, stating that they had to cut through the roof to flee. "We jumped from one roof to another for safety, and finally they arrived with boats to rescue us," Shrestha recounted to AFP.

In response to the crisis, more than 3,000 security personnel have been deployed to assist with rescue efforts, utilizing helicopters and motorboats. Rescue teams are also employing rafts to transport survivors to safety. By Sunday morning, domestic flights in and out of Kathmandu resumed after severe weather had forced a halt on Friday evening, resulting in the cancellation of over 150 departures.

The summer monsoon is responsible for delivering 70-80% of the annual rainfall in South Asia, bringing widespread devastation and loss of life each year. However, the frequency of fatal floods and landslides has risen in recent years. Experts attribute this increase to the impacts of climate change, which have intensified the regular monsoon rains.

In July, a landslide in Chitwan district pushed two buses carrying 59 passengers into a river. While three people managed to escape, authorities were only able to recover 20 bodies due to the raging floodwaters hindering search efforts. Thus far, more than 260 people have died in Nepal as a result of rain-related disasters this year.