No Respite Soon as Nepal Braces for Heavy Rainfall Today, Alert Issued; 240 Dead So Far

Kathmandu: Nepal, which is reeling under widespread floods and landslides due to heavy rainfall over the past few weeks, is expected to witness heavy rainfall on Thursday as well. The rain-related incidents have claimed more than 240 people dead across the Himalayan nation so far.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Wednesday directed authorities and disaster management agencies to remain on high alert as weather forecasts predict heavy rainfall in the Koshi and Bagmati provinces, as well as in the Kathmandu Valley, through Wednesday and Thursday.

The warning followed after the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology flagged potential risks of further downpours in parts of the two provinces.

Lekhak urged the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), chief district officers, and local governments to caution against possible risk of disasters.

The ministry also appealed to the public to remain on alert and be prepared to mitigate the potential risks of heavy rainfall and its consequences.

"I have directed the chief district officers of Koshi and Bagmati province and chiefs of all security agencies in the disaster-prone provinces to remain on alert," Lekhak said.

Taking in view the conditions of major highways and roads due to rain-triggered landslides and floods, Lekhak urged travellers to be careful while travelling as the risk remained high.

Home Ministry spokesperson Rishiram Tiwari said 13,071 people have so far been rescued from the flood-hit areas. The disaster, which began on Thursday, continued to cause widespread destruction in multiple provinces until Sunday, leaving thousands displaced. Large swathes of eastern and central Nepal have been inundated since Friday.

More than 20,000 security personnel, including from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police, have been deployed for all-out efforts of search, rescue and relief distribution.

(With PTI Inputs)