KATHMANDU, JUNE 18

Around Rs 500 million worth of infrastructures have been destroyed in flooding and landslides in the eastern Nepal.

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management Prakash Jwala informed today's meeting of the House of Representatives about the matter.

"Heavy flooding and landslips due to rainfall in districts including Taplejung, Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha and Panchthar have caused huge losses. Some people have lost their lives while others have gone missing in the disaster. I personally and on behalf of the government want to offer condolences to the victims."

Rescue efforts and relief distribution have been sped up, he said, adding that Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, government employees have been deployed to the incident sites for rescue efforts and relief distribution.

"Taplejung has been cut off from other districts after flooding swept away a bridge over the Huwa river. Electricity has been also discontinued. Five meters road along the Arun corridor has been damaged," he said.

The Mid-Hill Highway has been damaged at some places, he said.