Western disturbance linked to Nepal floods

A western disturbance that brought rain to parts of northern India, and subsequently moved eastwards towards the Himalayas, may have contributed to the weather conditions preceding the devastating flash floods in Nepal on Wednesday (August 26, 2026), according to a senior India Meteorological Department (IMD) official. Nepali authorities are also investigating whether an earthquake triggered a landslide or avalanche that caused the sudden surge of water.

“The interaction between the systems, along with the hilly terrain, might have played a role,” D.S. Pai, Director, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, told The Hindu, “The same western disturbance system was moving eastwards, bringing increased rainfall activity towards the northeast and the Himalayan region.”