As of Sunday, the official death toll from the Nepal floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains stands at 192. At least 30 people remain missing with authorities continuing search efforts to locate them.
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A reported 111 individuals have sustained injuries due to the floods and landslides across various parts of Nepal. Rescue operations are ongoing to provide medical attention to the injured.
More than 4,000 people have been successfully rescued from flood-affected areas by the combined efforts of the Army, Police and the Armed Police Force.
Rescue teams consisting of security agencies like the Nepal Army and Nepal Police are working to bring stranded people to safety. Air rescue operations have been launched with 162 people airlifted from dangerous regions by helicopters.
Relief efforts are underway with food grains and other essential materials being distributed to those affected. In some areas such as Balkhu on the outskirts of Kathmandu, social workers have assisted in distributing meals to those in need, serving 400 people.
The floods have damaged infrastructure with 322 houses destroyed and 16 bridges washed away or damaged.
According to meteorologists, the disaster was triggered by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal and an unusual northward shift in the monsoon trough.
These factors resulted in heavy rains across Nepal affecting eastern and central regions. Rivers like the Bagmati, Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali overflowed, causing massive floods.
The Koshi River Basin was one of the hardest-hit areas affecting districts like Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur.
Other rivers such as the Gandaki and Karnali, caused flooding in Banke, Bardiya and Dang. The Terai plains in southern Nepal faced flooding especially in districts like Morang, Jhapa and Rautahat.
In the hilly areas, landslides were destroying homes and cutting off access to remote villages. Districts like Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Lamjung, Gorkha and Rasuwa suffered huge landslide damage. Major highways were blocked.
The floods and landslides have damaged 322 houses, 16 bridges and numerous roads throughout the country. Kathmandu Valley was particularly impacted with 37 deaths and many homes submerged in floodwaters.
Several roads leading into Kathmandu including the Tribhuvan Highway were buried under landslide debris, disrupting transportation.
Nepal’s security forces including the Army, Police and Armed Police Force, have been mobilized for rescue and relief operations.
So far, 4,500 people affected by the disaster have been rescued, but many remain stranded due to road disruptions. Emergency teams are working to clear highways and provide aid to those trapped in remote areas.
Health experts has concerns about the outbreak of water-borne diseases such as cholera, in the flood-affected regions.
Hospitals especially in areas like Nepalgunj are overwhelmed with patients and mobile health units have been deployed to deliver medical aid.
The rainfall has damaged at least 20 hydropower plants, disrupting power supply in major cities including Kathmandu. The hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 1100 MW suffered severe damage due to floods and landslides.
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The government convened an all-party meeting led by Officiating Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh, to address rescue and relief measures.
Authorities have promised free medical treatment, food supplies and emergency relief to those affected by the floods.
Efforts are underway to restore transportation by clearing obstructed highways and reopening access to flood-hit areas.
The floods have also affected neighboring Bihar in India, where heavy rains have prompted flood warnings. Authorities in Bihar have released water from the Gandak and Kosi Barrages.
A red alert for heavy rainfall was issued for several districts in Bihar including East Champaran, West Champaran, Araria, Kishanganj and Gopalganj.
The country has already recorded 1,586.3 mm of rainfall, exceeding the seasonal average of 1,472 mm.
The Nepalese government has responded by mobilizing 10,000 police officers, volunteers and army personnel for search and rescue operations.
Authorities have also banned night driving in the Kathmandu Valley to minimize accidents on waterlogged roads. Air travel has been disrupted as well with many domestic flights delayed or canceled due to poor weather conditions.
The government has urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel in regions prone to landslides and flash floods, to ensure public safety during ongoing rescue operations.
In Dhading district, 19 people were killed when a bus was buried under a landslide. In Bhaktapur, five people including a pregnant woman and a young child were killed when their house collapsed in a landslide.
Six football players lost their lives in Makwanpur when a landslide struck a training center operated by the All Nepal Football Association.
Four individuals were swept away by the Nakkhu River in the southern Kathmandu Valley and their cries for help went unanswered as no rescue was possible in time.
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