KATHMANDU, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall in Nepal over the past three days has reached 50 on Sunday.
The Nepal Police said in a statement that at least 50 people have died in the monsoon-induced disasters while 1,104 people have been rescued safely. Thousands of people have been affected by the floods particularly in the low-lying areas, bordering India.
"Out of the total deaths across the country, 22 are women and 28 are men. At least 35 people have gone missing and the search operation of the missing persons is underway," the statement said.
The deaths occurred in various districts and provinces like Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Makwanpur, Khotang, Kavre, Sindhuli, Dhading, Bara and Dhanusha. At least three people lost their lives when a wall collapsed in landslide in the capital city, while five died in Lalitpur district located within Kathmandu valley.
According to police data, at least 25 people have been injured in the disaster, who have been undergoing treatment in local hospitals.
Twenty-one of Nepal's 77 districts have been affected due to the floods and landslides. The incessant rains caused landslides and triggered flash floods in rivers originating in the Himalayas.
"Altogether 27,830 police personnel are on the standby for rescue in different parts of the country," Ramesh Thapa, senior superintendent of Police at the Nepal Police Headquarters, told Xinhua on Saturday.
Families have been displaced after the swollen rivers breached the embankment and gushed into human settlements, especially in Province 2. The natural disaster has caused huge loss of properties by damaging houses, livestock and farms. Power supply has been affected in many areas.
Moreover, many sections in the highways including the major East-West highway have been obstructed due to the collapse of bridges and landslides.
A meeting of the Central Disasters Relief and Rescue Committee under the Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday had urged all the government agencies to expedite rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in floods and landslides-hit areas in coordination with the local governments.
Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been deployed in the disaster-hit districts to carry our rescue and relief operations.
Meteorological Forecasting Division said rainfall will continue for two to three days in most places across the country and warned public to stay high alert.
Nepal witnesses an active monsoon usually in July and August.
