Nepal has been hit by persistent heavy rainfall in various areas last week, leading to a rising death toll of 231 and 165 injuries due to floods, landslides, and other natural disasters. The Prime Minister of Nepal has urged the public to assist in rescuing the affected individuals.
The torrential rain, which started last Friday (September 27) and lasted for 48 hours, caused severe damage to infrastructure and communication systems across Nepal. Large areas in the eastern and central regions were submerged in floods, displacing thousands of people. The disaster is estimated to have caused property losses of up to 17 billion Nepalese Rupees (approximately 126,600 US dollars), as reported by “The Kathmandu Post”.
Rishiram Tiwari, the Under-Secretary and spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Nepal, informed the media that as of Wednesday (October 2), the ongoing monsoon rainfall-induced disaster has resulted in 231 deaths, 24 missing persons, and 165 injuries.
He stated that the government has prioritized rescue efforts, with security forces and volunteers having rescued 13,071 individuals from flood and landslide-affected areas. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing. Additionally, relief supplies including food are being distributed to the affected population, and free medical treatment is being provided to the injured.
Humanitarian workers from the United Nations mentioned on Tuesday (October 1) that many of the victims were from the capital, Kathmandu, which experienced the most intense rainfall in over half a century. Hundreds of houses, schools, and hospitals have been destroyed, with the southern part of Kathmandu still submerged in floodwaters.
The heavy rainfall also caused extensive damage in areas outside the capital. Out of Nepal’s 77 administrative districts, 44 have been affected, leading to transportation disruptions, collapsed bridges and roads, and disruptions to power lines and telecommunication networks.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli acknowledged during a press conference that the extent and scale of the disaster exceeded the government’s earlier predictions. He declared a national mourning period of three days starting from Tuesday to honor the victims of the calamity.