KATHMANDU, July 26: At least 111 people lost their lives in flood and landslides following the incessant monsoon rain. 40 are still missing while 67 were injured in the incidents, according to the National Emergency Operation Center of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Of them, 58 died of floods while 45 succumbed to landslides and eight died due to heavy rainfall, according to Head of the Center Bedanidhi Dhakal.

Floods alone have induced damage of more than one billion rupees while landslides have caused damage worth Rs. 20 million.

Of the 77 districts, 64 districts were affected by floods, landslides and inundation.

KATHMANDU, July 24: Several roads have been disrupted across the country due to swollen rivers and landslides in the aftermath of the latest monsoon downpour.

In Chitwan, the Madi-Thori postal highway has been disrupted due to the increased level of water in most of the rivulets that lie along the road.

Chief of the Madi Area Police Office, Inspector Yubaraj Timilsina said the Magai, Bagai, Ratane, Ghangar and other streams have become swollen after overnight rain.

The road has been disrupted since morning.

The local Riukhola has burst its banks, increasing threats of flooding in settlements close to the river.

Similarly, the road from Hetauda to Raigaon of Dharan has been obstructed due to landslide triggered by incessant rain since Tuesday.

Transport in the eastern parts of Makawanpur has been halted due to this. A landslide at Shreepur, Bakaiya-5 has blocked the highway leading to Chhhatiwan, Phaparbari and Raigaon.

Meanwhile, nine houses have been inundated by floodwater at Baniyatol and Shantinagar of Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City-5 following the incessant rain.

The flooded Gordoikhola river breached its bank and entered the settlements, the Makwanur Police stated.

Similarly, a truck was swept away by the flooded Karrakhola river at Hatiya of Hetauda-17.

The truck was swept away and covered by sand and mud.

However, there was no casualty.

In Palpa, risk of the landslide has greatly increased at Phoksingkot of Rambha rural municipality-2 in Palpa district due to incessant rain.

This risk exists in several places in the area. A landslide has occurred at Lambhar area of Ranibas after a bulldozer was pressed into service for widening the rural road.

The Phoksingkot-Tansen road is disrupted for two weeks due to mudslide and flooding at several places along the road.

A shortage of food and supplies has occurred in the area due to the halt in transport.

Youth missing In Saptari, a 34-year-old man has gone missing after he was swept away by the Khandokhola river at Rupani rural municipality-1 in Saptari district today.

The victim is Nasir Miya. He was swept away while trying to fish out logs brought by the swollen river. RSS

KATHMANDU, July 22: Moderate to heavy rain has been forecast throughout the country for the next three days as monsoon trough is presently based in the southern region of Nepal.

According to meteorologist Raju Pradhananga of Department of Hydrology and Metrology, the monsoon trough frequently moves southward and northward and brings heavy rainfall when it is stationary.

The monsoon trough which had shifted toward the south from Nepal some days back, again moved up to Nepal on Monday, increasing the chances of moderate to heavy rainfall in almost all parts of the country till Wednesday.

With the possibility of widespread rain, precipitation is likely to occur in hilly regions and rises in waters level in the rivers flowing across the Chure and hills.

On such conditions, air and transportation services might get disrupted.

Rainfall measuring 50 to 100 millimeters is termed as the heavy rainfall while it is measured as the very heavy rainfall when it exceeds 100 mm.

This year, the maximum rain in the Kathmandu Valley was measured on July 13.

The Valley witnessed the 104 mm rain on that day.

Flashfloods are predicted from some small rivers in the Tarai and hilly region on Tuesday and Wednesday as the level of waters in the Kankai, Kamala and Bagmati rivers and some tributaries are likely to go up in this period.

People residing in the settlements near banks of such rivers are requested to remain alert and take preparedness and response if necessary.

Tonight, generally to totally cloudy condition will prevail in the hilly and central regions and partially cloudy weather over the western region.

There are chances of rainfall in almost all parts of eastern and central regions and at some places of the western region, Department said. RSS

KATHMANDU, July 18: About 452 thousand people from 90 thousand families have been affected due to flood, landslide and inundation triggered by monsoon rain in various districts of the country.

Similarly, 40 thousand houses have been damaged by the disaster, the preliminary estimates of the humanitarian organization, Nepal Red Cross Society, shows.

The NRCS collected primary data from its units in the most affected districts. NRCS’ Disaster Management Director, Mona Aryal said the Society’s trained volunteers are involved in the search and rescue and relief distribution in the disaster-affected districts.

They are also carrying out rapid search, rescue and relief distribution works as well as data collection.

NRCS has mobilized 374 trained volunteers and other volunteers in the affected areas. The Society has distributed tarpaulin sheets to 1,662 families and the complete set of relief materials to 310 families.

According to NRCS, a preliminary rapid survey is on in Siraha, Saptari, Rautahat, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Morang and Dhanusha districts of State 2.

One natural disaster response expert is working in each of these districts. Similarly, information is being disseminated on water purification methods and prevention from snakebite in the affected areas.

The floods and landslides triggered by incessant monsoon rainfall since last week has left 90 people dead and 41 injured while 29 are still missing, according to Home Ministry.  RSS

BARDIBAS, July 18: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged all to involve in rescue and relief operation of the flood and inundation affected people.

Addressing party cadres, President Deuba, who arrived Bardibas to carry out the onsite visit of flood and waterlogged areas of Mahottari district and take stock about the condition of the victims, urged them to involve in rescue and relief operation with the service motive.

He said that he has also expected the same motive from other political parties, government bodies and donor agencies.

The NC President also suggested the cadres of all political parties to engage in rescue operation addressing victims’ complaints.

President Deuba would visit the most flood and inundation hit areas– Shreepur and Pipara rural municipalities of Aurahi municipality and Jaleshwor today. RSS

RAUTAHAT, July 17: Ministers, political leaders and high-ranking government officials have reached the flood-hit areas in Terai region to monitor the devastation caused by the flood and landslides triggered by incessant monsoon rainfall.

At least 78 people lost their lives in floods and landslides across the country, dozens are still missing and about 17,420 people have been relocated, according to Home Ministry. Likewise, 40 have been injured and more than 3300 people have been rescued so far.

Former Prime Minister Madhav Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Upendra Yadav, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Raghubir Mahaseth and Energy Minister Barshaman Pun reached various districts of Province 2 on Wednesday to monitor the havoc caused by monsoon rain.

Likewise, State Minister for Agriculture Ramkumari Chaudhary, Development and Technology Committee Chair Kalyani Khadka and lawmaker Prabhu Sah were also included in the team.

‘CANCELING HOUSE MEETING AT THE TIME OF NATIONAL DISASTER IS WRONG’

KATHMANDU, July 16:  The parliament is under the government’s control and Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara has become the government’s puppet, said Mahendra Yadav, a leader of main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC).

The House of Representatives meeting scheduled to be held on Monday, which was expected to discuss the devastation across the country resulted by the floods and landslides triggered by days of incessant monsoon rainfall which left over 65 dead and thousands displaced, was put off until July 24.

“Postponing the parliament meeting at the time of National disaster is wrong,” said Mahendra Yadav, leader of main opposition party Nepali Congress in a television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan.

The opposition parties NC and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) had registered a motion on the matter of public importance seeking a discussion on the havoc caused by flood and landslides triggered by monsoon rainfall across the country.

However, Speaker Mahara, who according to NC Chief Whip Bal Krishna Khand was positive about the meeting, later adjourned the meeting.

According to Mahara’s press advisor Dilli Malla, the Speakers postponed the meeting to avoid yet another House obstruction. The opposition parties have been obstructing the parliament since July 9 demanding formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate the loss of two lives in police firing in Sarlahi.

Yadav said that the oppositions did not request the Speaker to convene the meeting to obstruct it but to discuss the ways to support the people affected by rain-related disasters.

“We requested the Speaker to call a House meeting to discuss the devastation across the country resulted by monsoon floods and landslides. We showed that we are with the government to support the affected people,” said Yadav.

“We did not want to block the House proceedings. But the Speaker put up a notice announcing the cancelation of the meeting blocking the discussion,” added Yadav.

“The government should have co-operated us. The meeting should not have been deferred for a week when the nation is suffering from natural disasters.”

The Speaker’s decision has also raised questions on his ability to play a neutral role in the parliament yet again. Mahara has faced criticisms for supporting the Nepal Communist Party earlier as well when the ruling party bulldozed the National Medical Education Bill through the parliament despite strong NC protest. Mahara’s ability was also questioned when he did not allow NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba to speak in the parliament prior to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli when the controversial Guthi Bill was registered at the National Assembly.

According to reports, the Speaker canceled the meeting following the direct instruction from the prime minister.

“Mahara is the Speaker of Nepal Communist Party. It is clear that the parliament is under government control,” fumed Yadav.

“Speaker cannot take a party’s side. He should act neutral,” he added.

“But the Speaker has become the government’s puppet here,” he said.

Yadav also urged the government to convene the parliament meeting as soon as possible so that all the political parties and leaders could work together to support the people who are in need.

Yadav also accused the government of failing to help and provide relief to the flood and landslides affected people.

The television interview also witnessed a heated debate between leader Yadav and NCP lawmaker Yagya Raj Sunuwar as Sunuwar was defending the government.

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.

KATHMANDU, July 12: At least 21 people have been killed,  eight have been missing and over 3000 people have been relocated from the flood-affected area due to floods and landslides triggered by four days of incessant rainfall in various parts of the country, according to Nepal Police.

Three people lost their lives to flood in Kathmandu and three others in Khotang. Similarly, two each in Jhapa, Kavre, Bhojpur and Okhaldhunga, and one each in Ilam, Ramechhap, Makawanpur, Parsa, Lalitpur, Dhading and Sindhuli districts.

Likewise, eight have gone missing including two in Rautahat, and one each in Makawanpur, Sunsari, Panchthar, Mahottari, Morang and Kathmandu districts.

Those who were killed in the natural disasters were Nilu Yadav, Sharmila Yadav and Kundan Yadav of Kageshwori, Manahara Municipaity-6 in Kathmandu, Rekha Rai, Roman Rai and Rohan Rai in Khotang.

Goma Dangal and Sohani Dangal from Banepa in Kavrepalanchwok, Padam Kumari Sunuwar of Ramechap, Jagat Bahadur Rai and Janak BK from Bhojpur, Suraj Jima of Lalitpur, Nikhil Patel of Parsa, Asmita Tamang of Gajuri, Dhading, Hem Kumari Sunuwar of Sindhuli lost their lives in the incents occurred after incessant rainfall.

The police have rescued about fifty people, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) at the Police Headquarter in Naxal, Ramesh Thapa.

Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchowk, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Rautahat, Parsa, Dhanusha, Chitwan, Udayapur, Paanchthar, Makawanpur, Khotang, Dolakha, Dhankuta, Dhading, Okhaldunga, Bhojpur districts and other places were highly affected by the recent floods.

Various places in Terai were at risk of inundation. The rescue team from Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been mobilized for rescue operation in various hardest hit areas. Ministry of Home Affairs said that all the mechanisms have been activated to expedite rescue operations.