KATHMANDU, Sept 29: Disaster incidents induced by persistent rainfall across the country has resulted in at least 100 deaths in the past three days, leaving 40 individuals injured and 65 missing. 

According to the Armed Police Force (APF), as of 11:30 pm on Saturday, at least 48 individuals died while 15 sustained injuries and 21 are missing in the Kathmandu valley due to incidents caused by the incessant rain since Thursday evening. Of the 48 reported dead in the valley, 25 died in Kathmandu, 18 persons died in Lalitpur and five others in Bhaktapur district.

Of the seven provinces, Bagmati Province was affected the most in terms of casualties, where at least 85 individuals lost their lives to the disaster incidents, 37 were injured and 37 went missing. Similarly, 13 people died, three were injured and nine went missing in Koshi Province; two died and one went missing in Madhesh Province; and two went missing in Lumbini Province.

A total of 195 housing infrastructures were destroyed across the country with the highest of 154 losses in Koshi Province alone. An overflowing Trishuli river swept away three tipper trucks, two excavators and bulldozers on Saturday morning.

Spokesperson for the APF, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kumar Neupane informed Republica that a total of 10,540 police personnel were mobilized from the APF and the Nepal Police to carry out rescue efforts across the nation. He said that a total of 3500 personnel were mobilized in the Kathmandu valley while the remaining 7040 personnel were mobilized in other affected districts across the country. 

“As per our detailed report, rescue efforts from police personnel resulted in the safe rescue of 2905 individuals,” DIG Neupane told Republica, “They have been evacuated to safe spots in their local bodies.” He added that each local unit has come up with relief packages for the victims as of now while the victims of the disaster incidents are also awaiting relief packages from the federal government.

Of the 2905 rescued, 1457 individuals were rescued in the valley alone, 539 in districts of Bagmati Province excluding the Kathmandu valley, 853 in Koshi Province, and the remaining 56 in Madhesh Province. DIG Neupane informed Republica that an APF rescue boat capsized while an APF rescue post in Khurkot was swept away by an overflowing Bhotekoshi river. In either incident, no police personnel were injured.

While the rainfall has receded in the valley, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has issued a warning of heavy rain till Monday. DIG Neupane informed Republica that the APF has been alerted by the home ministry to be prepared for continued rescue efforts for the next two days. The APF has urged people to contact their hotline number 1114 for emergency rescue.

Govt decides to immediately resume obstructed roads, provide free treatment to injured

An emergency cabinet meeting chaired by acting Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh at Singha Durbar on Saturday directed the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to immediately resume the blocked roads.

According to Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, the meeting instructed the relevant ministries to make arrangements for the immediate operation of essential services including electricity, drinking water, and telephone. “The meeting also decided to legally provide relief and compensation to the families of the deceased and arrange free treatment to the injured in the natural disasters,” Minister Gurung informed Republica. He added that the meeting assessed the damage caused by the rain-induced floods and landslides. 

 
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