At least nine people have died and many were reported missing in Nepal as landslides and floods caused by incessant rainfall in the last three days wretched havoc in several parts of the country, affecting over 90,000 people.  Floodwaters inundated over 4,500 houses and affected over 90,000 people, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, said in a statement on Sunday. Over 700 people have been moved to safer places, according to a report in The Kathmandu Post. 

Landslides destroyed several houses and blocked many roads, including crucial highways. 

Further heavy rainfall is predicted in the western province of Sudurpashchim, and the central provinces of Bagmati and Gandaki, and Province 1 in the east. The meteorological department also predicted rains in the southern lowland area.

“This is a continuation of the rain caused by the monsoon trough,” Ram Prasad Awasthi, information officer at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post. 

“The more the trough goes north to the foothills of the Himalayas, the more it activates monsoon rain, and this pattern will last till Tuesday,” said he added. 

Earlier in June also, when the monsoon hit the country, it wreaked havoc in several parts. Many cities and populated valleys in the country’s north were completely submerged in water. Experts had suggested the excessive pre-monsoon rainfall this year behind the heavy flooding. 

Between 14 June to 28 August, 93 people have been officially reported killed and 44 people reported missing due to rainfall-related incidents. 

(SAM)