Nepal

28 killed, 11 missing in floods and landslides

28 killed, 11 missing in floods and landslides

By Himalayan News Service

FILE: The locals gather to see the portion of the Lal Bakaiya dam that was swept away by a flood in Rautahat, on Saturday, August 12, 2017. Photo: Prabhat Jha

Sunsari, August 12 At least 28 persons were killed while ten went missing in floods and landslips triggered by incessant rainfall in various parts of the country in the last two days. At least seven persons lost their lives after they were swept away by the swollen Budhi Khola in Itahari Sub-metropolitan City, Sunsari, today. The deceased have been identified as Mala Shah, 30, her daughter Sitthi Shah, Mala Rai’s son Rupesh, 3, and daughter Rupsani, 8, Ishwor Sunuwar, 40, and Chanda Tamang. The identity of one is yet to be ascertained. Police said an elderly man approximately in his 70s was swept away by the flood. Sunsari SP Bidhyanand Majhi said seven bodies were recovered. He surmised that flood might have swept away many others. “Floods in various rivers have inundated many settlements. Thus, the number of dead and missing in the flood might go up,” SP Majhi said. Likewise, four persons were killed and three persons went missing in floods and landslips in Morang. Gopimaya Tamang, 35, of Malwase in Letang Municipality died in a mudslide. Police said Gangaram Khatiwada, 32, was killed after the flood in Bakraha Khola swept him away. Min Bahadur Thapa, 56, of Kerabari Rural Municiplaity died after he was swept away by Lohandra Khola. The body of an elderly man was found in Budhiganga Rural Municipality. The identity of the deceased is yet to be ascertained. SP Arun Kumar BC said three elderly men went missing in Budhi Khola at Sundar Haraincha Municipality after they were swept away by the flood. Three minor girls of a family were killed when the flood in the Rapti River damaged their house at Raptinorani Rural Municipality, Banke. Banke SP Tek Bahadur Tamang identified the deceased as Kabiraj Tharu’s daughters Anju,12, Sarita, 9 and Sushmita, 7. Floods in various rivers killed four persons in Jhapa while seven have gone missing. The deceased have been identified as Kamala Darlami, Dhanmaya Ghorsani, Bijay Pandey and Ram Rajbanshi. They were swept away by the Mechi and Kankai rivers. Four members of a family, including Kali Prasad Rajbanshi, Tej Bahadur Darlami, Khusi Darlami and Kamala Ghorsani, went missing after the flood swept them away in the district. District Police Office Jhapa said that a search operation was under way to find the missing persons. Bhagawati Sunar was killed after  she was swept away by the swollen Tuhi Khola in Fulbari of Tulasipur Sub-metropolis, Dang. Sunar was swept away on Friday night when she was  out of her home to shift the goat. Her body was found in a bush nearby. Gahani Paswan, 45, of Kachorwa in Simrongadh, Bara died after being trapped in debris when his house collapsed last night. He was  sleeping at the time the incident occurred. Four persons of a family were buried to death in a landslide at Gaurigaun of Kamalamai Rural Municipality, Sindhuli, today morning. The dead are Durga Kumari Khadka, her daughter Shobha Khadka,15, and sons Anish,10 and Manish, 8. Durga’s husband Uday Bahadur Khadka had fled to save his life. Police said the landslip had struck Khadka’s house at 4:15am today. Meanwhile, a press statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs today said that two persons in Sarlahi and one person each in Palpa and Makawanpur were killed in a landslip and flooding. (With inputs from Biratnagar, Jhapa, and Sindhuli reporters)