The death toll from monsoon-induced floods and landslides in Nepal has risen to 193, with at least 31 people still missing and many others injured, police said on Monday.
The heavy rain, described by local media as the worst in decades, has predominantly affected the eastern and central regions of the country.
According to Nepal police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki, search and rescue operations may last for the next few days as urgent requests for assistance are coming in from isolated areas cut off from communication.
“We’re finally receiving requests from regions that were previously unreachable,” Karki told dpa, adding that 96 individuals are currently receiving treatment for serious injuries.
“Our teams have reached most affected areas and relocated vulnerable families to safety, but we are still working to locate those who are missing.”
In the past 24 hours, over 100 bodies have been recovered from landslide debris, including from buried passenger vehicles.
Nearly half of the fatalities have occurred in the Kathmandu Valley, which comprises three districts, including the capital.
Approximately 4,000 people from affected areas have been moved to safety.
While domestic flights have partially resumed, many key roads connecting Kathmandu to other regions remain obstructed by landslides.
“Some major road links connecting to Kathmandu have been cleared of debris while works are in progress to clear other roads,” said Karki.
There have been power and internet outages in many areas, and numerous schools remain closed.
The rain has stopped in most parts of the country and the weather is expected to improve in the coming days.
Nepal’s mountainous terrain and numerous rivers make it particularly susceptible to natural disasters.
