Kathmandu, July 30

At least one person was killed when a house collapsed in Lalitpur district following heavy rains last night, police said today.

The house, located at Gimdi Hutitar of Mahankal Rural Municipality-6, collapsed after heavy overnight rainfall. According to Central Police News Section, four-year-old Sushmita Syangtan, daughter of Mangal Bahadur Syangtan, died after she was buried under the debris of the two-storey mud house.

Three members of the family were sleeping when the house collapsed. A search and rescue team of police rushed to the spot and recovered the body of the girl from the debris. Other members of the family are said to be safe.

The rainfall recorded in the 24 hours ending at 5:45pm today in Kathmandu Valley was 62 mm, according to Meteorological Forecasting Division. It said light to moderate rainfall were likely in some places of the western region and at a few places of the eastern and central regions tonight and tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said incessant rainfall for the past few months had debilitated land and man-made structures in mountainous and high Himalayas, and slopes were more vulnerable to debris flow.

According to National Emergency Operation Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs, as many as 155 people have lost their lives in 634 events of disaster reported across the country from April 14 to July 25 this year. The disasters include heavy rainfall, flood, landslide, avalanche, boat capsize, fire, lightning, among others.

Lightning outdid all other types of natural disasters, killing 59 persons followed by landslides (30) and floods (19) during the period. Similarly, 13 persons went missing in floods and landslides.

The NEOC said 1,653 families were affected by the disasters. The disasters also claimed as many as 504 cattle and poultry birds. At least 665 houses were destroyed or damaged. The total loss of property is amounted to approximately Rs 1.25 billion.