Monsoon flood kills 43, 24 missing

KATHMANDU, July 14: At least 43 people have lost their lives while 24 others have gone missing in central and eastern regions of the country in flood and landslides triggered by incessant rain since Thursday night, according to Police.

Of them, five were killed in Lalitpur and Bhojpur each, four in Makwanpur, three each in Kathmnadu, Khotang, Okhaldhunga and Kavrepalanchowk, two each in Dhading, Jhapa and Sindhuli and one each in Palpa, Parsa, Ramechhap, Ilam, Sunsari, Bara, Rautahat, Siraha, Dhanusha, Chitwan and Dolpa.

Likewise, 24 are missing while 20 are undergoing treatments in varous hospitals and health centers.

Many villages remain waterlogged with water level up to four feet in Southern parts of Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha and Siraha. Major highways are completely and partially obstructed due to flood and landslides at various sections. The electricity and landline telephones remain dead in the affected areas.

Similarly, about 2000 individuals have been rescued from different parts of the country.

According to Meteorological Forecasting Division, the rain has shifted from eastern and central region to western and mid-western plains. The government has alerted the residents living in the riverbanks while scores have been evacuated from flood-prone areas in Banke districts.

Security personnel have been mobilized to intensify rescue and search for the missing in the flood and landslide affected areas. According to the Home Ministry, the task of clearing debris of flood and landslide from roads in different areas is underway.