41 killed in Nepal landslides, monsoon-related disasters

At least 41 people have died in Nepal from landslides and other natural disasters caused by incessant monsoon rains across several parts of the country since Friday, police said on Sunday.

Nepal police spokesman Binod Ghimire told dpa that most of the deaths occurred in the Ilam district of eastern Nepal, where multiple landslides struck since Saturday night.

“A total of 37 people were killed from landslides in Ilam alone, while the remaining fatalities were due to lightning and flash floods in other areas,” Ghimire said, adding that at least six people are still reported missing across the country.

According to police, the downpours have also washed away or severely damaged several roads and bridges. Authorities have declared a public holiday and restricted vehicle movement along major highways in response to the perceived risk of further landslides.

Large areas of eastern and central Nepal have been lashed by heavy rainfall since Friday, worsening the risk of further disasters. The late monsoon rain has stopped in Kathmandu valley, where rising river levels inundated thousands of homes on Saturday.

Landslides and floods are common in the Himalayan nation during the rainy season, killing hundreds each year. Experts cite Nepal’s fragile mountain topography, weak disaster forecasting and poor post-disaster response as factors that worsen the impact of such disasters.