Floods, landslips claim 39 lives in Nepal; thousands displaced

Scores of houses swept away, rivers swell due to incessant rains, many of the deceased earthquake victims living in a quake-damaged house after repair,

In this handout photograph released by the Nepalese Army on Wednesday and taken on Tuesday, Nepalese army personnel rescue flood victims at Nawalparasi, about 200 km southwest of Kathmandu. At least 39 people have perished in the deluge.

At least 39 people have been killed and several others are missing as floods and landslips triggered by heavy monsoon rains wreaked havoc in Nepal displacing thousands of people.

Scores of houses and some bridges have been swept away in several parts of the country as incessant rains resulted in swelled rivers, posing a threat of massive flooding and causing panic among the local population. So far 39 people were killed and 28 others missing in the past 24 hours in floods and landslips, officials were quoted as saying by Kathmandu Post .

Many houses waterlogged

Thousands of people have been displaced and hundreds of houses have been waterlogged after floodwaters gushed into their settlements.

Many of the deceased were earthquake victims who were living in a quake-damaged house after repair, police said. Tens of thousands of Nepalese are still living in tents following the last year’s devastating earthquakes that killed nearly 9,000 people.

Pyuthan is among the 14 worst-hit districts where at least 11 people were killed. In Gulmi, separate incidents of landslide have claimed at least seven lives, while five houses and three bridges have been washed away. A swollen Tinau river destroyed a suspension bridge at Butwal.

6000 are at risk

Around 6,000 people are at risk. Flooded Mechi River has swept away an embankment on the Indian side. After the incident, Naksalbari, Panitanki and other Indian markets have been waterlogged, according to the police.

Water levels were close to dangerous levels in the Saptakoshi river. Flow in the Saptakoshi has crossed this year’s highest mark after continuous rainfall for the past 10 days. Water flow in the river was measured at 277,410 cusec on Tuesday morning, the highest for this year. Thirty-seven of the 56 floodgates have been opened.

Water levels at the Narayani have also crossed the danger mark. Local administration has mobilised security personnel to warn people living near the river.

Rescue operations

The government has launched rescue and relief operations in 14 of Nepal’s 75 districts that have been affected by the floods. Soldiers and volunteers used rubber boats to rescue people marooned by the flooding, while helicopters were being used to drop food supplies.