48 dead, 54 injured in 28 days of monsoon calamity

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 8: At least 16 persons were killed and two went missing in floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in three days from Friday to Sunday. 

In the monsoon-induced disasters that occurred in different parts of the country from July 5 to 7, 28 persons were injured and 27 infrastructures were destroyed.

According to the update of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 11 persons were killed in landslides in different districts of the country and five in flood incidents in the last three days. 

Likewise, property worth Rs. 18 million was damaged in the 169 incidents of natural calamities that occurred across the country in the last 28 days,  according to the NDRRMA.

According to the data received from the Authority, of the total 169 incidents, 54 were related to heavy rainfall, 20 were related to floods, 13 to fire, three to animal-related incidents, and one each to snakebite and high altitude sickness. 

According to Dr. Dijan Bhattarai, Under Secretary and spokesperson for the Authority, 117 livestock were killed during the period. 

Likewise, in the last week from June 30 to July 7, 20 persons died and 40 others were injured. Of the total deaths, 12 were killed in landslides and eight in floods. Two persons were missing in the monsoon-led disasters. 

During the week, 302 incidents of natural calamities occurred. Of them, 133 were related to landslides, 86 to heavy rainfall, 37 to fire, 31 to floods, seven to animal incidents, four to snakebites, two to thunderbolts and one each of high altitude sickness and wind storm. During the past week, property worth Rs. 40 million was damaged when 47 infrastructures were destroyed and 277 livestock were killed. 

Meanwhile, various parts of the country have been affected by floods and landslides from the incessant rainfall since the onset of monsoon on June 10, resulting in the death of 48 citizens as of Sunday afternoon, according to Nepal Police Headquarters.

The casualties include one in the Kathmandu Valley, 11 in Koshi Province, two in Madhes Province, two in Bagmati Province, 19 in Gandaki Province, 10 in Lumbini Province, two in Karnali Province, and one in Sudurpashchim Province. 

Additionally, 54 persons were injured, and of them, three in the Kathmandu Valley, 11 in Koshi Province, four in Madhes Province, four in Bagmati Province, 18 in Gandaki Province, two in Lumbini Province, 11 in Karnali Province and one in Sudurpashchim Province. 

Furthermore, within the period, 53 persons were rescued alive. Of them, 41 individuals were rescued in Koshi Province and 12 in Gandaki Province.

Similarly, seven persons went missing. Of them, three went missing in Koshi Province, two in Bagmati, and one each in Gandaki and Karnali. 

Search operations for the missing are ongoing, said Deputy Inspector General and Spokesperson for the Nepal Police Headquarters Dan Bahadur Karki. 

A total of 121 houses were submerged in the floods during the period. Additionally, 82 houses, 46 animal sheds, 41 bridges, one school, and two government offices suffered damages. The disaster has resulted in the death of 188 livestock. During this period, 1,058 households have been displaced, said DIG Karki. "Efforts are being made in coordination with various agencies and local residents to relocate families at risk to safe locations, recover buried property and clear blocked roads in different areas," he said. 

Meanwhile, over dozens of houses have been submerged because of the incessant rainfall in Banke. Settlements near the river embankment in Rapti, and local rivers have been submerged after the water level in the rivers increased. 

Villages in Duduwa Rural Municipality, Narainapur Rural Municipality, Janaki Rural Municipality, Kohalpur Municipality and Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan city have faced inundation because of the incessant rainfall of two days.