Manang landslide briefly blocks Marsyangdi River amid Nepal monsoon rains

A massive landslide hit Nepal's Manang district on Sunday, sending debris into the Marsyangdi River and briefly blocking parts of its flow, officials said. The blockage lasted for a few hours before the river returned to normal, with no major damage reported.

The landslide followed incessant rain in the Himalayan nation, as Nepal continues to face frequent rain-related disasters during the monsoon. Authorities asked people living in downstream areas, and in places prone to floods and landslides, to remain alert and take precautions as rainfall continues.

Nepal is still reeling from last month's flash floods that originated near the Nepal-Tibet border. The Bhotekoshi River carried the floodwaters downstream, sweeping away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges, and damaging hydropower projects. The August 26 flash floods killed at least 1,453 people and left more than 5,000 missing.

Officials said more than 20 people have been killed in floods, landslides and other rain-related incidents across the country over the past few days. On Sunday, landslides also blocked other rivers in Palpa, Manang and Mustang districts in northern and western Nepal, though the impact was limited as the blocked rivers cleared after a few hours.

In another incident, a 55-year-old man died after falling off a cliff while watching the swollen Kali Gandaki River and its erosion in Baglung in Gandaki province. Police said he died on the spot and an investigation was underway. In Palpa district, five people were killed on Saturday after a landslide buried a house under mud, officials said.

The latest landslide in Manang, along with other blockages and deaths reported elsewhere, has added to Nepal's monsoon-related difficulties, with authorities continuing to urge caution in vulnerable areas.