Nepal Rains: At least five people were killed in landslides triggered by rain in four districts of eastern Nepal on Monday. About 28 people are also said to be missing between the rains and landslides. According to the Koshi Provincial District Police, five people have been confirmed dead after heavy rains lashed Nepal’s Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, Panchthar and Dhankuta districts on Saturday night.
Provincial district police records said two deaths were confirmed in Panchthar while one death each was reported in Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung and Dhankuta districts. Provincial district police said 21 people were untraceable in Sankhuwasabha since Saturday night, while four were missing in Panchthar and three in Taplejung district.
Monsoon has entered Nepal last week. Nepal’s Transport Minister Prakash Jwala while addressing a session of Parliament in Kathmandu on Sunday said that due to heavy rains there has been huge loss of property in eastern Nepal.
Minister Jwala said that there has been extensive damage to property due to floods and landslides in various districts of eastern Nepal, especially Taplejung, Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha and Terhathum. Road connectivity and bailey-bridges have been damaged in those districts and many more roads have been blocked. The minister also told Parliament that search, rescue and relief operations are still underway in the affected districts.
Nepal army engaged in relief and rescue work
The minister informed that the government is working for the search and rescue of the missing people and those who are facing disaster in the districts. Nepal Army, Armed Police Forces, Nepal Police as well as government officials are involved in rescue, relief and search for missing people in the affected areas.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority earlier this month estimated 12.5 lakh citizens to be affected by the monsoon this year. The Disaster Management Authority said that an estimated 1.298 million people from 286,998 families would be affected by the disaster.
It is estimated that 400,000 people in Madhesh province and 300,000 in Koshi province will be affected. According to the NDRRMA, an estimated 200,000 people in Lumbini Province, 100,000 in Bagmati Province, 147,000 in Sudurpashim Province, 69,000 in Gandaki Province and 35,000 in Karnali Province will be affected due to the disaster. Let us tell you that last year around 2 million people were affected.
