Kathmandu Valley sees 'record break' rain

Kathmandu, Sept 28: The Kathmandu Valley has witnessed the highest rainfall this year.     

According to the Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the rainfall record is the highest one since the beginning of rain measurement in the country.     

Rojan Lamichhane, meteorologist of the division, informed that 239.7 mm rain was measured in the last 24 hours at the Tribhuvan International Airport's Rain Measurement Center at 8:45 am this morning.     

He said that this is the 'record-breaking' rainfall since the beginning of the measurement. Earlier in 2002, 177 mm of rain was recorded here.     

Meteorologist Lamichhane informed the government that preliminary studies have shown that such heavy rainfall has not yet been measured in Kathmandu Valley and a detailed situation report will be published in a few days after a comprehensive study. Rainfall has been measured in other nine measuring centres of the Valley.     

According to the Department, 200.5 mm rain was measured in 24 hours in Lalitpur's Chapagaun in 2002 and 323 mm rain today.     

Likewise, 112.4 mm rain was recorded in Jiri, 100 mm in Janakpur, 113.3 mm in Lumle, 177.6 mm in Dharan, 173 mm in Dhankuta, 110.1 mm in Okhaldhunga, 194 mm in Kathmandu, 120 mm in Simra and 194.2 mm in Bhairahawa.     

As of Saturday evening, 66 people died and 79 people went missing across the country due to floods, landslides and inundation caused by heavy rains.     

In Kathmandu Valley alone, 34 people have died and 21 people are missing. There has been steady improvement in the weather since this evening.(RSS)