Monsoon floods in Terai: Death toll rises to 115; 38 missing

KATHMANDU, Aug 15: At least 115 people have died, 38 are missing and 25 others have been injured due to devastating monsoon floods and landslides sparked by the three days of relentless downpour in central and western Terai.

Over six million people were affected and more than 48,000 homes have been submerged by the floods across the southern plane that began on Friday, according to Home Ministry.

The ministry also confirmed that 2,847 houses have been completely destroyed and 3, 727 infrastructures have been partially damaged in 33 districts; and more than 48,000 homes have been submerged by the waters.

The government has accelerated the task of rescue and relief operations as well as search for those missing in the flooding and inundation, with more than 26,700 security personnel directly deployed for post-disaster rescue and relief operations.

The Ministry said that a total of 13 helicopters including seven of Nepal Army, motorboats, rubber boats and other equipments are being used for search, rescue and relief measures.

Ministry’s spokesperson Ram Krishna Subedi said that tarps, cooking pots, dry foods, salt, vegetable oil and other relief materials have also been distributed in the affected districts.

Meanwhile, the overflowing rivers have also sub-merged seven districts in the eastern state of Bihar bordering Nepal affecting at least two million people.