New Delhi: At least 33 people have died in floods and landslides in Western Nepal in the past week with thousands of residents being asked to evacuate following the worst monsoon rains, local media reports.
Hundreds of homes have been damaged in the avalanches and flooding following devastating rains that hit Karnali province in the country’s north-west.
At least 22 people are still missing across the province and scores more have injuries, reports BBC.
Amid continuous rains, rescuers are finding it difficult to reach the mountainous region.
‘We have mobilised police officers on the ground. We have arranged a helicopter for air rescue from Surkhet,” said one police spokesman, quoted by the Annapurna Post.
“However, unfortunately, due to the weather not improving, progress is not being made as expected.”
According to the report, most of the missing people came from the low-lying Kalikot district. Thousands were evacuated from their homes there in the past week amid warnings of intense rain.
The Karnali river also rose over 39ft and several bridges over the river were reported to be washed away. The Nepal government has dispatched relief aid to the region via helicopters.
The United Nations’ humanitarian agencies said they were distributing food and medicine to the worst affected communities in western Nepal.
According to the country’s National Emergency Operation Centre, at least 110 people have died this year in rain-related disasters.
