Nepal: At least 51 killed as heavy rains trigger floods and landslides

At least 51 people have been killed across eastern Nepal since Saturday night as torrential rains unleashed floods and landslides, officials said on Sunday.

The heaviest losses were reported in Ilam district of Koshi province, where 37 people died in multiple landslides over the past two days, Kalidas Dhaubaji, spokesperson for the Armed Police Force (APF), told reporters.

Of the fatalities in Ilam, eight occurred each in Deumai and Maijogmai municipalities, six in both Ilam municipality and Sandakpur rural municipality, five in Suryodaya municipality, three in Mangsebung, and one in Fakfokthum village, according to a statement from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

Elsewhere in Koshi province, two people died in Udayapur and one in Panchthar due to flooding and landslides. Rautahat saw three deaths from a lightning strike, while Khotang recorded two fatalities. Six more people were killed in a road accident in Panchthar, attributed to the damage caused by the downpour.

Rescue teams are also searching for several missing people. At least four individuals were swept away by a swollen river in the Langtang Conservation Area of Rasuwa district, while one person each remains unaccounted for in Ilam, Bara, and Kathmandu due to flooding.

Meanwhile, of the 16 trekkers caught in the Langtang area, four are still missing, APF officials confirmed.

Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate and take precautions, warning that heavy rains are expected to continue in the region over the coming days.

The disasters come amid a period of unusually heavy rainfall in eastern Nepal, which has caused widespread damage to roads, homes, and farmland. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing, with the APF and local authorities mobilising teams to reach affected communities.

Nepal Army, Nepal Police and APF personnel were involved in carrying out rescue operations.

The security personnel rescued four people, including a pregnant woman, from Ilam district in helicopters and admitted them to a hospital in Dharan municipality.

Monsoon was active in five of the seven provinces of Nepal, namely Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini.

Offering help to the neighbouring country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a social media post said ”India remains committed to providing any assistance”.

“The loss of lives and damage caused by heavy rains in Nepal is distressing. We stand with the people and Government of Nepal in this difficult time,” Modi wrote on X.

“As a friendly neighbour and first responder, India remains committed to providing any assistance that may be required,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Nepal government has allowed some vehicles to travel to and from Kathmandu in view of the improved weather conditions.

On Sunday, Kathmandu Valley received less rainfall as compared to the past two days and road blockages caused by landslides have been removed from some of the national highways.

“As per the decision of the Monsoon Counter Command Post, vehicles operating for emergency services and vehicles transporting goods as well as passenger vehicles and short distance vehicles halted in the middle of the national highways will be allowed to move towards their destinations keeping in view the conditions of the roads in coordination with the local authorities,” read a statement issued by the NDRRMA.

However, until further notice movement of vehicles have been restricted at night in case of risky roads and highways, it added.

On Saturday, Nepalese authorities restricted the entry and exit of vehicles from Kathmandu due to incessant rainfall and the possibility of landslides for the next three days.

A red alert was also issued for areas around the Bagmati and East Rapti rivers.

Continuous downpour was reported in Kathmandu and other parts of the country since Friday night, as the monsoon has become active, the authorities said.

Also on Saturday, domestic flights from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) have been halted due to bad weather.

Hansa Raj Pande, general manager at TIA, Kathmandu, said that domestic flights from Kathmandu, Bharatpur, Janakpur, Bhadrapur, Pokhara and Tumlingtar have been halted until further notice.

With inputs from agencies

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