Monsoon-Induced Disasters Claim 74 Lives in Country

Hamrakura
Published 2024 Jul 09 Tuesday

Kathmandu: The onset of the monsoon season in Nepal has resulted in the deaths of 74 individuals and injuries to 88 more, caused by disasters such as floods, landslides, and inundation across the country. These incidents have severely impacted the nation's infrastructure, leading to the complete blockade of highways in 19 different locations.

The disasters have claimed lives across various provinces: one in Kathmandu Valley, 18 in Koshi Province, three in Madhes Province, four in Bagmati, 22 in Gandaki, 18 in Lumbini, and four each in Karnali and Sudurpaschim Province. The injured include three in Kathmandu Valley, 21 in Koshi Province, five in Madhes, four in Bagmati, 26 in Gandaki, four in Lumbini, 15 in Karnali, and ten in Sudurpaschim Province.

Nepal Police, led by Spokesperson Deputy Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki, reported the rescue of 53 individuals from disaster sites—41 in Koshi Province and 12 in Gandaki Province. However, five people remain missing: two in Koshi Province, two in Bagmati Province, and one in Sudurpaschim Province. Search operations for the missing are ongoing.

The disasters have resulted in significant property damage, including the waterlogging of 161 houses, damage to 94 houses, 53 huts, 41 bridges, two government offices, and one school. Additionally, 335 cattle perished, and 296 families were displaced. Efforts are underway to relocate families at risk of floods and landslides to safer areas and to clear debris from blocked roads to resume traffic.

As of this evening, 19 locations remain completely blocked due to rain-induced disasters. These include the Karnali Highway in Kalikot, Madan Bhandari Highway in Surkhet, Simkot-Humla to Namkha Road, Jajarkot Road Section, Karnali Corridor, Surkhet-Dailekh Road Section, East-West Highway in Kanchanpur, Martyr Highway in Rolpa, Ridi-Baglung Road Section, Syaulibas-Bagdumla, Chame-Besishahar Road Section, and Koshi Highway in Sankhuwasabha. However, traffic has been resumed for one-way movement in 14 places. The Beni-Darbang road in Myagdi has reopened after three days of closure. The roads in 27 districts have been directly affected by the monsoon.

The Armed Police Force of Nepal, led by Spokesperson Deputy Inspector General Kumar Neupane, has successfully reopened roads blocked by landslides in areas like Nagarkot, Changunarayan Municipality-6 of Bhaktapur. These efforts reflect the ongoing challenges and coordinated responses by various state bodies to mitigate the impact of monsoon-related disasters on Nepal's population and infrastructure.



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