Nepal rains: Villages swept away by heavy rainfall and landslides, death toll rise to 44
Heavy rainfall in Nepal has led to 44 confirmed deaths from landslides. Rescue efforts are ongoing in remote areas, with significant infrastructure damage reported, including blocked roads and disrupted flights.
Heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc across different parts of Nepal and neighboring India, triggering deadly landslides that have claimed more than 44 lives, the officials said on Sunday.
Nepal has been severely affected by the torrential downpours that began on Friday, prompting rescue workers to conduct rescue operations in cut-off communities who reside in remote mountainous terrain.
Death toll rises in Nepal
As of Sunday, at least 44 people in Nepal have died in rain-triggered disasters, with five people reported missing, Shanti Mahat, spokeswoman for Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, told AFP.
The eastern district of Illam was the worst hit, with at least 37 fatalities caused by landslides, resulting from heavy overnight rains. Local district official Sunita Nepal noted that the rescue workers have reached the affected areas, however the rescue operations were challenging due to blocked roads.
Rivers in the capital Kathmandu have also swelled, flooding settlements along their banks. Security personnel have been deployed in such regions to assist rescue efforts with helicopters and motorboats.
A Nepal resident, 38-year-old vegetable seller Rajan Khadga told AFP that “there is some damage, but thanks to the authorities' prior flood alert, we were able to move some belongings to a safe place.”
Landslides damage infrastructure
The landslides have also significantly damaged infrastructure, blocking several highways and disrupting flights. This disruption in air travel has left hundreds of travellers stranded, many of whom were returning home after celebrating the Hindu festival of Dashain.
In response to the crisis, Prime Minister Sushila Karki assured the public that government agencies were "fully prepared for rescue and relief". Emphasising the government's concern for citizens' safety, she urged everyone to seek necessary assistance.
The government has declared Sunday and Monday as public holidays and advised people not to travel unless necessary, AFP reported.
The fate of at least five missing individuals remains a concern, according to federal disaster officials.