Nepal Floods: Death Toll Over 200 As Himalayan Nation Sees Unprecedented Flooding, 33 Missing

Incessant rains and floods in Nepal have claimed nearly 200 lives, with 30 still missing. Security agencies have deployed for rescue and relief, but lack of resources hampers operations.

People travel using a boat at a flood-affected area following heavy rainfall in Kathmandu.

Source : PTI

The death toll due to incessant rain, floods, landslides, and inundation has reached nearly 200 with at least 30 people still missing. 

Over 204 people have been killed in the continuous rainfall, floods and landslides, MyRepublica news portal reported, quoting the Armed Police Force (APF). It added that 89 others have also been injured nationwide in the disaster, while 33 others remain missing. 

Security agencies have been deployed for search and rescue and relief efforts following the floods and landslides, Tiwari said. Over 4,500 disaster-affected individuals have been rescued so far, the report stated. 

Heavy rains since Friday have caused widespread flooding across Kathmandu Valley, and across Nepal. This is the worst flooding experienced in recent years, said Jagan Chapagain, the Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in a post on X.

The extremely heavy rainfall has left a trail of destruction with severely damaged numerous roads throughout the nation. All routes leading to the capital Kathmandu have been blocked, leaving thousands of travellers stranded, reported Kathmandu Post. 

Tiwari said that efforts are underway to clear the obstructed highways to resume transportation. 

Lack of necessary equipment for rescue operations has made the task difficult for the Nepal Army and Armed Police Force who have been mobilised on the ground. Security personnel are resorting to the use of primitive equipment like rubber boats, ropes, tubes, and shovels for rescue operations, says Dijan Bhattarai, spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority under the Home Ministry, as per Kathmandu Post report. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is recently on a 10-day visit to the United States will return to Nepal on Monday. He participated in the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. 

Officiating Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh convened an all-party meeting on Sunday and decided to boost rescue, relief, and re-establishment efforts. 

On Saturday, the government decided to close all schools across the nation for three days and halt all the ongoing examinations amid the inclement weather conditions and the havoc it has unleashed. The decision was taken during an emergency Cabinet meeting held by Acting PM, said Minister for Education Bidya Bhattarai. 

The Nepal Home Ministry said all security agencies have been deployed for relief efforts following the floods and landslides, and the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel have rescued around 4,500 disaster-affected individuals so far.