Nepal floods & landslides: 217 dead, 28 missing amid search and rescue operations – Times of India
The death toll from rain-induced floods and landslides in Nepal had surpassed 215 on Tuesday, with 28 individuals still missing according to officials.
The disaster that began on Thursday, left thousands displaced in multiple provinces with widespread destruction that continued till Sunday. Since Friday, large parts of eastern and central Nepal have been engulfed by the floods.
However, the weather in Kathmandu improved, offering a little relief to the disaster-stricken people.
The death toll in the flood and landslide triggered by three days of continuous rain in Kathmandu and various parts of Nepal has reached 217 as of Tuesday morning.
As of now, 28 people have been missing with another 143 sustained injuries due to the natural disaster-related incidents, according to Home Ministry spokesperson Rishiram Tiwari. Continuous rains from Thursday to Saturday wreaked havoc across the landlocked country of Nepal.
The Kathmandu Valley suffered the most where the death toll crossed 50. Over 20,000 security personnel, including members of the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police, have been deployed to conduct extensive search, rescue, and relief distribution efforts.
Those injured are receiving treatment at various health facilities and others affected with flood and landslides are provided with instant relief materials, Tiwari said.
He added that the government has prioritised search, rescue and relief distribution along with ongoing efforts to resume blocked roadways.
According to scientists, though the amount and timing of rain across Asia is altered by climate change, a key factor behind the impact of floods is the built environment, insufficient areas for water retention and drainage due to unplanned construction, especially on floodplains.
The floods and landslides have disrupted life in many areas of the country, with numerous highways and roads affected, hundreds of homes and bridges buried or washed away, and many families displaced.
