Death toll climbs to 18 in Lidi landslide as seven more bodies recovered on Saturday

Published On: August 15, 2020 08:05 PM NPT By: DHRUBA DANGAL

21 still missing in the landslide

SINDHUPALCHOWK, Aug 15: Death toll in a landslide that took place in Lidi village in Jugal Rural Municipality in Sindhupalchowk district has reached 18 with seven more dead bodies recovered from the landslide debris on Saturday.

Twenty one people, who went missing after being buried by the landslide on Friday morning, are yet to be found as of Saturday evening.

According to the Information Officer at the District Police Office in Sindhupalchowk Deputy Superintendent of Police Madhav Prasad Kafle, dead bodies of seven persons including two children were excavated from the landslide debris. The deceased have been identified as Man Bahadur Dong, 30, Laxmi Dong, 11, Maila Parang Dong, 16, Chyama Dong, 11, Bimala Dong, 7, Mekmai Dong, 37, and seven-month-old Kabir Dong.

Eleven other dead bodies recovered earlier on Friday were cremated as per the Buddhist rituals, according to a local Prem Dong.

The massive landslide triggered by incessant rainfall had swept away at least 37 houses, leaving 39 locals missing in the debris. A total of 11 of those missing in the landslide were found dead on Friday.

A team of 150 security personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police has been mobilized for search and rescue operation, according to DSP Kafle.