[2][3] Lacking advanced technologies to predict or record a tornado, the scientists instead based their findings on forensic evidence, including witness accounts.

The tornado originated in Chitwan National Park and followed a path 200–250 metres (220–270 yd) wide and 30 kilometres (19 mi) long through several villages in Bara and Parsa districts, accompanied by rain, hail and thunderstorm.

Emergency aid and response began soon after, with the Nepalese Army and Nepal Red Cross Society distributing supplies, while hospitals in the affected areas were overwhelmed with the number of injuries.

Hirohiko Ishikawa, a meteorologist at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute of Kyoto University stated there is a possibility of unrecorded tornadoes in the plains of southeastern of Nepal.

[2] A plausible tornado was reported in February 1968: a weather observer recalled a 120 m (390 ft) diameter "pillar of dust and rain" that traveled 0.80 km (0.5 mi) and caused extensive crop damage.

[8] Kiran Nepal of the Nepali Times asserts that the 2019 tornado was not the first of its kind and that prior events documented in literature and folklore were overlooked by media.

[11] The United States' National Centers for Environmental Information highlights an increased likelihood of tornadoes from Ganges Basin northwest along the southern slopes of the Himalayas, through Nepal, and into northeastern Pakistan.

During this time, convective available potential energy—an indicator of atmospheric instability whereby higher values denote a greater likelihood of thunderstorms—and wind shear are conducive to the development of rotating thunderstorms.

[14] Before the tornado on March 31, the meteorological division of Nepal had issued a general forecast of possible rain for a large region, but it lacks the ability to determine the exact nature, strength or location of an incoming storm.

[16] Electric transmission lines have been built to pass through residential areas or vice versa with little regard for safety and regulations.

On March 31, 2019, at around 07:45 pm local time (GMT +5:45), a supercell thunderstorm spawned a strong tornado in the Chitwan National Park[2][7] which swept through the districts of Bara and Parsa in southern Nepal.

[2] In Pheta rural municipality of Bara district alone, 26 people lost their lives from falling bricks and roofs, being buried under rubble or getting crushed by uprooted trees, electric poles or pylons.

[22] The Nepalese Army placed a helicopter on standby for relief efforts soon after the tornado; however, continued bad weather inhibited its use.

[9] The Nepalese Army established tent cities to accommodate displaced persons; however, living conditions became difficult with temperatures reaching 34.5 °C (94.1 °F) in the following weeks.

[22] With assistance from the Government of Australia and the United Nations Population Fund, WOREC Nepal established psychosocial counseling for women in Devtaal, Parwanipur, Pheta and Suvarna.

[20] A team of researchers from The Small Earth Nepal and the country's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) collaborated on a review of the damage.

[2] With the help of forensic evidence, including satellite and drone images, as well as eye-witness accounts, a group of scientists concluded that the event was a tornado.