In brief
In late September, heavy rains devastated western Nepal, sending the Daram River into a torrent that caught a government building on the brink of collapse. Witnesses captured the moment the structure teetered and fell into the rushing water before officials could evacuate precious documents and equipment. The collapse came amid a spate of landslides that have already claimed at least 27 lives, only weeks after a catastrophic flood along the Nepal‑Tibet border that killed 1,400 people. Emergency crews reached the site unharmed, but the incident underscores the escalating risk posed by climate‑driven extreme weather in the Himalayan foothills. Authorities urge local communities to heed flood warnings and strengthen early‑warning systems.
In a dramatic visual of nature’s power, a government office in Baglung collapsed into the rapidly rising Daram River on Sunday, 27 September. The moment was captured live by local residents who watched the building, already teetering on an unstable ledge, tumble into the water.
Officials acting quickly removed key documents and computer equipment before the collapse, as confirmed by ward chair Tej Thapa in a statement to the BBC. Thankfully, no one was injured and emergency services reached the scene without harm.
The incident comes amid a rapidly worsening flood crisis on the western side of Nepal, with at least 27 people killed by landslides and flooding in the past few days. This follows the catastrophic flash flood along the Nepal‑Tibet border that killed 1,400 people and left thousands missing. The national disaster agency (NDMA) warns that the hills are increasingly prone to such events due to climate change and rapid urbanisation.
Local authorities have urged residents to heed early‑warning signals and evacuate when flood stages rise. Meanwhile, disaster‑management teams are assessing the damage and evaluating the risk of additional collapses in the region.
Follow our coverage for further updates on the floods, rescue efforts and how climate‑driven weather shocks are reshaping communities across the Himalayan foothills.
