PHIDIM: At least 58 people are feared dead and eight injured in landslides that were triggered by incessant rain in several VDCs of Taplejung last night.

As many as 21 bodies were recovered till this evening while 37 were reported missing.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Shantiraj Koirala at District Police Office said the exact death toll from the mudslides was yet to be known. According to him, 21 bodies, including those of six women and eight children, have been recovered so far and six were handed over to their families.

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VDCs of Thinglabu, Khokling, Libang, Santhankra and Lingtep were the worst affected. At least 28 of the dead or missing are from Libang, two from Santhankra, 14 from Thinglabu, nine from Khokling and five from Lingtep VDCs.

Rescuers say likelihood of finding any of the missing persons alive was negligent.

According to Koirala, 150 personnel of the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police were in the mudslide-affected areas to carry out rescue work in collaboration with hundreds of locals.

Ten family members of Santahang Femsohang, Libang, were buried in the mudslide. Bodies of Sikshya, Aaitman, Junu, Sishir, Anju, Sapana and Arun of the Santahang’s family were recovered from the rubble. Bodies of Nimakhamdu Sherpa and his grandson were recovered from Libang. Sabin Maden, 10, and Basant BK, 8, were killed after landslides buried their homes in Khokling. Police have confirmed that Chameli Limbu, 8, of Lingtep, two persons from Santhankra and Man Maya Limbu were buried in Lingtep.

A Nepali Army helicopter from Kathmandu that brought Constituent Assembly member Damardhowj Tumbahamphe and CDO Damaru Prasad Niraula to the landslide-hit area rescued eight people injured in the incident. They were airlifted to headquarters Phidim from Santhankra, Libang and Thinglabu. Of them, three were critically injured and have been sent to Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences. Thick fog hampered the rescue operation though rain has ceased. Rain-fed Mewa Khola has prevented the rescuers from reaching Thinglabu for rescue operation via road.

CDO Niraula said they would resume rescue by chopper early tomorrow morning. Niraula added that a helicopter brought from Kathmandu had been kept at headquarters Fungling.

Police said landslides might have put more than 50 houses at risk in the affected areas, while five houses at Ramduwali bazaar in Lingtep were swept away. Landslip has also disrupted Mechi Highway in Mangkha.

Meanwhile, residents of Taplejung’s second largest bazaar Dovan were evacuated to safer places after rain-fed Mewa and Tamor rivulets increased the risk of inundation and washed away three houses in the bazaar area.