Comprehensive analysis of disaster events and their impacts with emphasis on water-induced disasters in Nepal

Abstract

Previous studies on disaster events and their impacts in Nepal were focused on event-based impacts rather than a comprehensive analysis covering all the hazards across the provinces for a long period. This study addresses the limitations of previous studies and aims to (i) summarize the disaster events and the losses due to disasters in the last 15 years across the seven provinces in Nepal, and (ii) suggest measures to reduce the impacts of disasters in Nepal. A framework was developed to analyze the impacts of disasters, which can be adopted in parts of the world. All the data available in the Building Information Platform Against Disaster (BIPAD) portal, managed by the Government of Nepal, has been used. During 2011–2025, recorded disaster events were 55,285, subsequently resulting in 16,770 fatalities, 1,509 missing people, and economic loss of 54,616 million Nepalese Rupees (USD 364 million). The frequency of disaster incidents per year has increased noticeably, with averages nearly doubling across successive five-year periods. Although Koshi province records the highest number of disaster incidents, Bagmati province records the maximum number of combined fatalities and missing persons, and Karnali province records the peak economic loss. Water-induced disaster events account for around 20 percent of total disaster events; however, they contribute to about 40 percent of total economic loss. Despite the increasing trend in the number of water-induced incidents, there is a progressive downward trend in the casualties and economic losses, especially in flood events; however, the casualty rate is markedly increasing for landslides, demanding planned landslide management in Nepal.