Heavy rains and landslides in Nepal and northern India have claimed the lives of more than 60 people , as rescue teams struggle to reach isolated communities in mountainous terrain.
Torrential downpours have battered Nepal since late last week, causing rivers to overflow and inundating many areas of the Himalayan nation. According to Shanti Mahat , spokesperson for Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, at least
44 people have died due to rain-triggered disasters , and five remain missing.
In the hardest-hit eastern district of Illam , 37 people lost their lives in landslides . Rescue workers face major challenges as roads are blocked, while rivers in the capital Kathmandu have also overflowed, flooding settlements along their banks. Security personnel are assisting with helicopters and motorboats, and prior flood warnings allowed some residents to move belongings to safer locations.
Across the border in India, at least 20 people were killed in the Darjeeling district after heavy overnight rains triggered flash floods and landslides , destroying homes and infrastructure. Rescue teams are using cables to reach isolated areas, and India’s meteorological department has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in sub-Himalayan regions.