KATHMANDU, Oct 5: At least 14 people have been confirmed killed in multiple landslides triggered by heavy rainfall across eastern Ilam district. Over two dozen others are either critically injured or reported missing.
The landslides, which struck on Saturday night, claimed six lives in Ghos area of Ilam Municipality-6 alone. Additional seven fatalities including two in Dhuseni of Deumai Municipality-5, one each in Dhare and Chhange of Sandakpur Rural Municipality-1 and four in Pyang of Maijogmai Rural Municipality-5 have also been reported, according to police.
UML leader Nemwang and Khanal cast their votes in Ilam (Photo f...
According to the Ilam District Administration Office (DAO), critically injured people have been reported from various parts of the district. These include three in Patigaun of Mangsebung Rural Municipality-1, one in Ratmate of Fakfokthum Rural Municipality-1, and five others in Manebhanjyang of Suryodaya Municipality-1.
“We have confirmed 14 deaths so far, but the toll is likely to rise as more reports of missing and critically injured individuals are coming in,” said Bholanath Guragain, spokesperson for the DAO, Ilam.
He also noted that dozens of houses have been damaged and a helicopter rescue operation is underway in Mangsebung, one of the worst-affected areas in the district.
Nepali Army helicopters have been deployed to evacuate the injured including pregnant women to the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan for emergency treatment.