Nepali Army rescues 119 trapped after massive Khandbari landslide

The Nepali Army announced on Tuesday that rescue teams had saved approximately 119 people trapped after a massive landslide struck the remote village of Khandbari in the eastern Terai region late Monday night. Soldiers arrived on the scene within two hours of the emergency call, deploying helicopters, all‑terrain vehicles and specialized search‑and‑rescue units to reach the isolated settlement, which had been cut off by swollen rivers and collapsed roads. The operation, coordinated with local disaster‑management authorities and the Nepal Red Cross, is now winding down as medical crews treat the injured and engineers begin clearing the main access routes.

The incident underscores the expanding domestic role of the Nepali Army, an institution that has evolved dramatically since its origins in the mid‑16th century Gorkha Kingdom. Historically known as the Gorkhali Army, it grew into the Royal Nepali Army after the unification campaigns of Prithvi Narayan Shah, serving as the armed wing of a Hindu monarchy that ruled Nepal for over two centuries. Following the abolition of the monarchy in 2008, the force was renamed the Nepali Army and has since been tasked with a broader mandate that includes disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions across Africa, the Middle East and the Indo‑Pacific.

In recent decades, the army’s involvement in civil emergencies has become a cornerstone of its public image. The 2015 earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people and left millions homeless, saw the Nepali Army mobilise thousands of troops to clear debris, distribute relief supplies and rebuild infrastructure. That experience informed the swift response to the Khandbari landslide, where soldiers employed a mix of traditional mountain‑rescue techniques and modern technology, such as drone mapping to assess the scale of the damage. The army’s coordination with civilian agencies reflects a deliberate policy shift toward integrated disaster management, aimed at mitigating the frequent natural hazards that plague Nepal’s mountainous and flood‑prone terrain.

While the rescue effort has been widely praised, it also highlights persistent challenges. Nepal’s rugged geography and limited road network often impede rapid deployment, forcing the army to rely heavily on air assets that are in short supply. Moreover, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, linked to climate change, places additional strain on the nation’s limited resources. Critics argue that the government must invest more in early warning systems, community preparedness and resilient infrastructure, rather than relying predominantly on military intervention after a disaster has struck.

The operation also carries implications for Nepal’s international engagements. As a major contributor to UN peacekeeping forces, the Nepali Army’s domestic capabilities are closely observed by partner nations that fund its training and equipment. Successful humanitarian missions bolster Nepal’s reputation as a reliable contributor to global security and disaster‑response initiatives, potentially attracting further support and joint exercises. Conversely, any shortcomings could affect the perception of the army’s readiness for overseas deployments, where it is expected to operate under complex, multilateral mandates.

For the broader region, the rescue underscores the strategic importance of a capable, multifaceted security apparatus in a country that sits at the crossroads of South Asia and the Himalayas. Stable and effective disaster response in Nepal helps contain humanitarian crises that could otherwise spill over borders, straining neighboring economies and prompting cross‑border migration. While the incident does not directly involve Taiwan, the episode illustrates the value of military forces that can pivot between defence duties and civilian assistance—a model increasingly relevant as climate‑driven disasters test the resilience of societies worldwide. Strengthening such capacities contributes to regional stability, safeguards supply‑chain routes that traverse the Himalayas, and reinforces collaborative security frameworks that benefit all stakeholders in the Indo‑Pacific.