Manohara River Floods Riverside Settlements in Bhaktapur as Residents Move to Higher Ground

Floodwaters from the Manohara River entered riverside settlements in Bhaktapur on Monday after heavy afternoon and evening rain pushed up the river level, forcing residents of several temporary homes to move to safer ground.

The flooding affected settlements along the river, with water entering temporary shelters and some houses. Police teams were deployed to the affected areas and helped move residents away from locations considered at risk.

Superintendent of Police Surya Khadka of the District Police Complex, Bhaktapur, said the river was carrying significantly more water than under normal conditions.

“After water entered some houses along the settlement, we moved the residents to a safe place,” Khadka told local media. Police personnel remained deployed in the area as the situation developed.

No deaths or injuries had been reported in the flooding at the time of the latest police update.

More than 100 residents reportedly moved to higher ground

Local reporting later indicated that the situation became more serious during the evening.

The Manohara River rose to the level of a bridge, prompting people living in houses and temporary shelters along the riverbank to leave the settlement. More than 100 residents reportedly moved to higher ground in Lokanthali at around 9pm as water began entering the settlement.

The affected area lies along the boundary between Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. Local reports said heavy rainfall in areas extending from Nagarkot in Changunarayan towards Sankhu contributed to the rise in the river.

Residents left the riverside area because of concerns that the water level could rise further if heavy rain continued.

Heavy rain hits Kathmandu Valley

The flooding followed a period of significant rainfall across parts of Nepal.

The Meteorological Forecasting Division reported heavy rain in Kathmandu and several other districts during the 24 hours leading into Monday morning. Heavy rainfall was also recorded in Sindhupalchok, Kaski, Syangja, Baglung, Palpa, Surkhet, Rukum West, Dailekh, Makwanpur and Khotang, while Lamjung recorded very heavy rainfall.

The weather service had warned that heavy rain remained possible in parts of Bagmati and several other provinces on Monday. The monsoon low-pressure line was located south of its average position, while rainfall and thunderstorms were expected in several parts of the country.

That rainfall increased pressure on rivers and streams across the Kathmandu Valley, including the Manohara.

Manohara has a history of flooding

The latest flooding is not an isolated incident for communities living beside the river.

The Manohara has repeatedly overflowed during periods of intense monsoon rainfall, particularly affecting informal settlements and temporary structures along its banks.

In August 2022, flooding from the river affected dozens of homes and temporary shelters in settlements around Manohara. Police reported that water entered about 80 houses and shelters in the wider affected area, while some livestock and structures were swept away. Residents were evacuated by police and rescue teams.

More recently, flooding in August 2025 placed around 140 households in Changunarayan-1’s Bensi area at risk. Floodwater eroded land along the river and damaged access roads, prompting local authorities and residents to take temporary measures to divert the river away from settlements.

Local representatives have previously called for longer-term measures, including riverbank protection and construction of the Manohara Corridor, to reduce the recurring threat to settlements.

A local report from earlier this month also said flooding had already eroded land on the Duwakot side and swept away four tin shelters following heavy rain, highlighting the vulnerability of riverside communities even before Monday’s latest rise in water levels.

River monitoring remains important

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology operates a hydrological monitoring station at Balkumari on the Manohara River. The station is equipped with an automated water-level monitoring system and forms part of the department’s river monitoring network.

The monitoring system is particularly important during intense monsoon rainfall because sudden rises in river levels can leave riverside settlements with little time to evacuate.

By the latest police assessment on Monday night, rainfall had eased and the Manohara’s flow was beginning to fall. Authorities nevertheless continued monitoring the affected settlements and keeping security personnel in the area.

More rain remains possible

The risk has not completely disappeared.

Forecast information available for Kathmandu indicated that scattered showers and locally heavier downpours could continue on Tuesday, while the national weather service had warned of the possibility of heavy rainfall in parts of Bagmati and other provinces.

For communities living close to the Manohara, another period of intense rainfall could quickly increase the river’s water level again.

Authorities have therefore continued to urge caution around rivers and flood-prone areas, while police remain prepared to move residents if conditions deteriorate.

For now, there have been no reports of loss of life from Monday’s Manohara flooding, but the incident has once again exposed the vulnerability of riverside settlements in the Kathmandu Valley during periods of intense monsoon rain.