Floods claim 49 lives in Nepal

2005-09-29 11:18

Kathmandu - More than 49 people were killed in flooding and landslides that followed torrential rains this week in far-western Nepal, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

The independent Nepali-language daily Nepal Samacharpatra said all the victims lived in a group of remote villages under the jurisdiction of the Shirsha village development committee.

But a far wider area was affected by the flooding and landslides that hit after three days of heavy rain from Friday to Sunday along the border with India.

The Nepal Samacharpatra said a team of Nepali Red Cross officials and human-rights activists went to the affected villages in Dadeldhura district, about 550km west of the Kathmandu, to help with rescue efforts and, quoting the district administration office, reported that the chief district officer announced immediate aid of 15 000 rupees (about $200) to each of the affected families.

Among the victims were more than 1 600 people who were left homeless in Chandani village on the border.

The meteorological office in the Nepalese capital said many parts of west Nepal experienced 150mm to 220mm of rain in a 24-hour period from Saturday to Sunday. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA