Update III: Security personnel, involved in search and rescue operations of the people missing in massive landslides in various villages of Taplejung district, have recovered eight more bodies this afternoon.

DSP Shantiraj Koirala, Chief at the District Police Office, Taplejung, informed that the number of people who lost their lives in the devastating landslides triggered by incessant rainfall has reached 35.

He informed that three bodies were dug out from Liwang VDC and five from Thinglabu.

According to him, 18 persons are still missing in the disaster.

Meanwhile, security personnel this afternoon rescued 14 persons who had been taking shelter at a cave for the past two days after their houses were swept away by the landslides in Mamaangkhe, Liwang.

Police said that they have been shifted to a safer place.

Update II: Police said that they have recovered three more bodies from landslide-hit Taplejung villages.

DSP Shantiraj Koirala, Chief at the District Police Office, Taplejung, informed that the number of bodies they recovered from the incident sites has reached 27.

He said that as many as 30 people are still missing in the disastrous landslides triggered by torrential rainfall.

Locals, however, claimed that all the persons missing in the devastating landslides have been dead.

Though a team of Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Chief of Army Staff Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana among other top leaders of various political parties was scheduled to inspect the landslide-affected areas today, the visit has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

Update I: Police have recovered three more bodies buried by landslides in various villages of Taplejung district on Friday.

According to DSP Shantiraj Koirala, Chief at the District Police Office, Taplejung, the number of bodies police recovered from the landslide-hit areas has reached 24.

Bad weather hampers search, rescue efforts in Taplejung

PHIDIM: Search and rescue operations for the people missing in landslide-hit Taplejung district have been affected due to thick fog since this morning.

A rescue helicopter brought from Kathmandu had been kept at Fungling, district headquarters of Taplejung, due to the inclement weather.

According to Chief District Officer, Damaru Prasad Niraula, police personnel deployed at the incident sites could not carry out search and rescue works due to incessant rainfall.

He informed that 21 bodies including six women and eight children have been recovered so far and as many as 37  are still missing.

Among the 13 persons rescued from landslide-hit area, eight have been airlifted to BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan and five are receiving treatment at the District Hospital, Taplejung.

Meanwhile, a team of Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Chief of Army Staff Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana among others is scheduled to arrive in the district today to inspect the landslides affected area,  Niroula informed.

READ ALSO: 58 feared dead in Taplejung landslides