October 2, 2024
KATHMANDU – The death toll from the recent monsoon-triggered floods, landslides, and inundations in Nepal has risen to 219, according to an updated report from the Nepal Police Headquarters. The fatalities have been reported from 22 districts, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur of the Capital Valley.
Kavre, Lalitpur, and Dhading have been the hardest-hit districts, with 65, 40, and 39 deaths, respectively, caused by the disasters. Additionally, 17 people have died in Kathmandu, 10 in Sindhupalchok, 7 in Makwanpur, and 6 in Panchthar. Bhaktapur and Solukhumbu have each reported 5 deaths, while Sindhuli has recorded 3. There have been 2 deaths each in Jhapa, Dhankuta, Mahottari, Rautahat, and Rupandehi districts, and 1 death each in Udayapur, Okhaldhunga, Saptari, and Ramechhap districts.
The police report further states that 27 individuals are still missing, and 156 have been injured. Among the missing, 2 people are from Kathmandu, 10 from Lalitpur, 4 from Panchthar, and others from Morang, Sarlahi, Parsa, Kavre, and Sindhupalchok. Rescue operations have been carried out, with a total of 12,584 people evacuated from affected areas, with the help of the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and local authorities.
The districts in the Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces have not reported any human casualties despite severe weather. However, the disaster has caused significant damage to property in other areas, posing challenges to post-disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts.
The government has faced criticism for the inefficiency in disaster response and management, with concerns raised over the lack of adequate preparation and resources, leading to avoidable losses of lives and property in several regions.