Flooding in Nepal kills at least 129 as swollen rivers pour through Kathmandu
Rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts continued on Sunday, as the rains relented on Sunday, but the number of dead could rise, as reports come in from villages across the mountainous country, and dozens are reported missing.
Sunday 29 September 2024 15:39, UK
At least 129 people have died in Nepal, as rivers swollen by heavy rains flooded homes and created deadly landslides.
Rescue, recovery, and clean-up efforts continued on Sunday, as the rain, which had pounded the country since Friday night, relented.
Officials warned the number of dead could rise, as reports come in from villages across the mountainous country, while dozens are reported missing.
At least 34 people were killed in the capital Kathmandu, which was the hardest hit by Saturday's flooding. At least 17 people were also injured, while 1,053 people were rescued, according to police.
Rescuers recovered 14 bodies overnight from two buses heading to Kathmandu that were buried in a landslide by a highway near the city.
At least one other bus and other vehicles were still buried at the same spot with rescue workers digging through rocks and mud trying to find people.
Kathmandu remained cut off on Sunday with three major roads, including the key Prithvi highway that connects the city to the rest of the country, blocked by landslides.
Police and soldiers have been helping rescue efforts, and heavy equipment has been used to clear blocked roads.
People living in the southern part of the capital, which was inundated by water, were cleaning up their houses as water levels began to recede.
Rescue workers used helicopters and boats to rescue people from rooftops or high ground, as some parts of the capital reported up to 322.2mm of rain over the past day.
Schools will be closed for at least three days, the government announced on Sunday.
Ministers had previously issued flood alerts across the Himalayan nation warning of massive rainfall.
Buses were banned from travelling at night on motorways, and cars were discouraged from venturing on to the roads. Security forces were put on high alert.
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Home minister Ramesh Lekhak said there are reports of damage in other parts of the country too and that officials are still collecting information.
"The government's priority right now is to rescue the people and help those who have been affected," he said.
The monsoon season that brings heavy rainfall began in June and usually ends by mid-September.