“The monsoon has been active in central and eastern Nepal in the past few days while the western parts have remained relatively clearer. The weather will start to improve from Tuesday but a complete monsoon retreat will take at least five-six days,” Senior Meteorologist Shiva Nepal said.[break]
Monsoon leaves the country from the eastern part after the westerly becomes dominant. It will take another five-six days for the westerly to be dominant enough to chase away monsoon clouds, Nepal explained.
Nepal said monsoon generally enters the country on June 10 and retreats by September 23, but since the onset was delayed by five days this year, the delay in retreat is along the expected lines. Rainfall in Kathmandu crossed the normal186.9 mm for September to reach 202.7 mm on Monday after 89.7 mm of precipitation in the past 24 hours.
Above normal rainfall this season
The MFD revealed that the country received above normal rainfall this monsoon.
“The precipitation in June was a little below normal due to late onset of monsoon but most parts received above normal rainfall in July and August. While the precipitations in the western parts have been slightly below normal in September, the central and eastern parts have received above normal precipitations,” Nepal elaborated.
Nepal also called this year´s monsoon a good one, spread across the season and country. “Though the rainfall was above normal, it was evenly distributed and, therefore, we didn´t have flash floods. Overall, it was rather good for agriculture,” he stated.
Two die due to lightning, landslides
Two persons have died and normal life has been affected in different parts of central and eastern Nepal due to heavy rainfall, according to our local correspondents.
Nadiyar Miya, an Indian national from Bihar working in a brick factory in Darbesa-9, Morang, was struck by lightning while he was in his rented room. Miya died while being rushed to Biratnagar for treatment.
Similarly, Irada Malla, 22, of Jyamdi-6 in Kavre died, while her mother Gyani, 46, and brother Shrawan, 13, were seriously injured after landslides caused by incessant rainfall swept away their home. The Arniko Highway remained obstructed till late afternoon following a landslide at Pakucha of Dhulikhel-1 in the morning while paddy fields in Nala, Banepa, Srikhandapur and Panauti were inundated after heavy rainfall.
Eastern Region Police Office, Biratnagar said normal life in the hilly districts of Okhaldhunga, Taplejung, and Sankhuwasabha was affected by heavy downpour while different parts of the eastern plains were inundated.
Similarly, our correspondent from Dolakha reports that Pushpa Lal Highway has been obstructed since Monday evening following landslides at Dholikhola of Bhirkot-9 and Sitali of Melung Village Development Committee (VDC).
Likewise, Janakpur has received 141 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, the heaviest single-day precipitation in the city in past four years, with water entering many houses owing to poor drainage facilities. Dhanusha chapter of Nepal Red Cross Society said around hundred houses in the district suffered damages due to heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, Siraha municipality has also turned into a big pool of water due to poor drainage, according to our correspondent.
47 domestic flights cancelled, three international flights diverted
The incessant rainfall in Kathmandu played havoc on flight schedules Monday. A total of 47 flights scheduled to take off from Kathmandu were cancelled due to bad weather while three international flights were diverted to other destinations.
Acting General Manager of Tribhuvan International Airport Rishikesh Sharma said 11 mountain flights and 36 flights to Lukla and other hilly destinations were cancelled on Monday.
There were around 150 domestic flights scheduled for Monday even though Buddha Air had grounded all its flights for the day to mourn the tragic accident of its aircraft on Sunday.
Three international flights to Kathmandu were also diverted due to the bad weather. Air Traffic Manager Bharat Prasad Sharma said flights of Silk Air, Thai Airways and Korean Air were diverted to other destinations with the Korean Air going to Dhaka, Bangladesh after entering Kathmandu Valley.
“Silk Air cancelled its flight after going to Kolkata, India, but Korean Air and Thai Airways, that was also diverted to Kolkata, landed in Kathmandu later,” Sharma added.
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It will take a few more days for the weather to improve: MFD
