Heavy rains lashed Nepal since Thursday, triggering floods and landslides throughout the country. Nine people were killed and more than 30 were missing in Myagdi district, 200 km (125 miles) northwest of the capital Kathmandu, where several houses were destroyed on Friday.
Most of the landslides happened in Sarangkot and Hemjan areas of Pokhara in Nepal, 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu. In the neighbouring Kaski district, seven people were killed, while another seven were killed in Jajarkot district in the far west. Several people have been reported missing post these floods, as Narayani and other major rivers in Nepal have swollen due to the continuous downpour in the last 48 hours. Nepal Army has mobilised a helicopter to bring three injured persons in the incident to Kathmandu for treatment. “We are searching for eight people who are still missing,” said Kishore Shrestha, a senior police official.
Around 43 houses have been buried in landslides in the Myagdi district, while the total loss of physical property has not been estimated yet. A municipality official said over 400 affected people have been taking shelter at community building and school building in Takam, Marang, and Ghantiwang.
The country’s meteorological agency has forecasted four more days of continuous rainfall. Landslides and floods are common in Nepal due to the June-September monsoon every year.