Landslides occurred and flooded at various places in eastern Nepal due to torrential rains since last night, killing at least 52 people by Sunday morning. An official of the Armed Police Force (APF) said that most of the deaths from 10 am to 10 am on Saturday morning were from Koshi province where the death toll due to floods, landslides, lightning and road accidents increased, while five of the seven provinces of Nepal were active in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini.
The local media quoted the Hydrology and Meteorological Department on Sunday morning that eight major rivers in East Nepal have reached above the danger mark due to continuous rains since Friday. Along with this, a red alert has also been issued for the areas around Bagmati and Eastern Rapti rivers.
Airport officials said that domestic flights from Kathmandu started again after the sky was cleared on Sunday morning. Flights to all provinces were stopped from Saturday due to bad weather. Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) personnel were deployed to conduct rescue operations in various areas.
Four people, including a pregnant woman from Ilam district, were brought to a safe place by helicopter and taken to a hospital in Dharan municipality. The Nepal government on Sunday announced a 2,00,000 Nepalese Rs as immediate relief to the families of those killed in rainy disasters.
A statement by the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA) said that in addition to giving financial compensation to the families of the deceased, the injured will be provided free treatment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while offering help to this Himalayan nation, said that India is committed to provide all kinds of assistance.
Modi wrote on ‘X’, loss and loss of life and property caused by heavy rains in Nepal is sad. We are with the people of Nepal and the government in this difficult time. Two people died in Udaipur and one in Panchthar due to floods and landslides. Apart from this, three people died in Rauthat and two people died in Khotang district.
Meanwhile, six people died in an accident due to roads being damaged due to heavy rains in Panchathar district. At least four people went missing after being swept away in a swinging river in the Langtang conservation area of Rasuwa district, and one person is missing in flood incidents in Illam, Bara and Kathmandu.
Dhoubaji said that four of the 16 people who went on a tracking campaign in Langang area have also gone missing. The Kathmandu Valley received less rainfall than the last two days on Sunday and some of the national highways have removed obstacles due to landslides.
A statement issued by the NDRRMA said, “As per the decision of the monsoon counter command post, the emergency services, goods transport, passenger vehicles and small distance vehicles in the middle of the national highways will be allowed to go to their destination keeping in mind the condition of roads in coordination with local authorities.”
However, till further orders, the movement of vehicles on risky roads and highways has been banned at night. Nepali officials on Saturday banned the entry and exit of vehicles from Kathmandu due to continuous rains and the possibility of landslides for the next three days.
A red alert was also issued for areas around Bagmati and Eastern Rapti rivers. Officials said that due to the monsoon being active, there has been continuous rains in Kathmandu and other parts of the country since Friday night.