Hetauda, Sept. 29 -- On the same date last year, Kulekhani reservoir was brimful, forcing authorities to open its sluices. The sudden release swept away roads and more than two dozen homes in downstream settlements. This year, on the very same date, the reservoir stands far from capacity.

As of Sunday morning, the water level in Kulekhani's Indrasarovar reservoir was measured at 1,504.21 metres. With a full storage elevation of 1,530 metres, that leaves about 26 metres yet to fill. Heavy rains usually during monsoon months are vital to raising the reservoir level, but this year's rainfall has failed to push it even halfway. While in a normal monsoon the surface would rise daily by 50 to 75 centimetres, this year it struggles to grow by e...