Floods and landslides kill over two dozen people in far west

  • 21/09/2008

  • Nepal News (Nepal)

Floods and landslides triggered by torrential monsoon rainfall in the last two days have killed over two dozen people in far-western districts. In Kailali district, at least 15 people have been killed and twenty-five Village Development Committees (VDCs) inundated due to flood in Mohana River. Nearly a dozen flood and landslide-related deaths were reported in Kanchanpur, Bajura and Doti districts. Kailali district headquarters Dhangadhi has been completely inundated and tens of thousands of local people there have fled their homes to save their lives. More than a dozen VDCs in Bardiya district have also been inundated. Reports said over 50 thousand people in Kailali and Kanchanpur are still waiting to be rescued as large-scale rescue efforts have not started yet. Flights from Nepalgunj to hilly districts of far-western region have been cancelled due to inclement weather conditions. Labour minister Lekhraj Bhatta, former minister Ramesh Lekhak and 18 other lawmakers from the region visited some of the flood-hit areas in Kalali today. Speaking in the parliament today, lawmakers from far-west complained of lack of prompt response from the government to the crisis, and demanded immediate deployment of relief and rescue teams.