Kathmandu-Residents in Nepal’s capital city returned home yesterday to flood-ravaged neighborhoods covered in mud and debris as catastrophic floods in the Himalayan nation had left at least 170 dead and cut off major highways. The heavy monsoon rains, which intensified this year, have washed away their houses, especially in the Sindhulpalchok district.

Due to heavy rains, floods and landslides often occur in South Asia from June to September. However, climate change has been described as intensifying these disasters faster and more potent, causing devastating effects for Nepal’s vulnerable people.

Whole city sections were deluged over the weekend as rivers overflowed their banks, damaging homes and underwatering several vehicles. Due to landslides and debris, key roads connecting the capital city to other parts of the country are impassable.

Kumar Tamang, 40, a resident of one of the riverside slums, narrated his harrowing escape with rising waters in the dead of the night. We had to flee because the water rushed into our home,” he said in an interview with AFP. This morning, we came back, but everything was different. We could not even open our doors; the mud jammed them shut. Yesterday, we were afraid the water would kill us, and today, we have no water to clean the mess.

The Home Ministry of Nepal confirmed that 170 people lost their lives, and 42 are still missing due to flooding. According to the Ministry spokesperson, Rishi Ram Tiwari, more than 3,000 people have been rescued, and bulldozers are being engaged to clear blocked highways to regain access to the city.

But perhaps the most fatal accident came at a time when a landslide swept across a highway south of the capital, burying three vehicles under mud and killing at least 35 people. Spokesperson Nepal Police, Dan Bahadur Karki, said that the victims were trapped under the earth as it careened into the road, and it left no chance to survive there.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology reported record rainfalls in 14 districts 24 hours before Saturday. Kathmandu’s airport recorded 240 millimeters of rain, the highest since 2002. The Bagmati River and its tributaries surged over their banks and overflowed large parts of the city. Residents struggled to wade through chest-deep waters, desperate to reach safety.

Another resident, Bishnu Maya Shrestha, said her family had to cut holes in their roof to escape the rising floodwater. “We jumped from roof to roof until rescuers arrived with boats,” she said.

Over 3,000 security personnel were deployed to assist in rescue efforts, using helicopters, motorboats, and rafts to help survivors stranded in the waters. International humanitarian organizations have also been deployed, delivering badly needed supplies, establishing evacuation centers, and distributing hygiene kits to affected persons. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies confirmed its presence on the ground, with teams assisting in relief efforts.

Domestic flights in and out of Kathmandu were resumed on Sunday following cancellations due to bad weather that had already forced over 150 flights to be suspended since Friday.

And climate change is deepening these calamities, say experts as monsoon rains rampage Nepal. More than 260 people have lost their lives in rain-related disasters alone this year, a grim reminder of the mounting toll on this already struggling region.