At least 66 dead and dozens missing in Nepal floods

At slightest 66 group person died and 69 others are missing, officials say, aft aggravated rainfall successful Nepal caused flooding and landslides.

The decease toll successful nan cardinal Asian federation is apt to emergence arsenic nan rains - which person predominantly affected nan vale surrounding nan capital, Kathmandu - are expected to persist done to Tuesday.

Thousands of homes situated adjacent rivers person been flooded and astir highways person been blocked, while video footage has emerged of group stranded connected rooftops.

The measurement of rainfall wrong a short timespan - complete 200mm (7.9in) since Friday evening - has inundated almost each rivers successful nan Kathmandu valley, wherever galore of nan deaths person occurred.

Landslides person besides caused a number of nan fatalities.

Five people, including a pregnant female and a four-year-old girl, died erstwhile a location collapsed owed to a landslide successful Bhaktapur, to nan eastbound of Kathmandu, authorities media reports.

Two bodies person been removed from a autobus buried by a landslide successful Dhading, westbound of Kathmandu. Twelve people, including nan driver, were said to beryllium onboard.

Six shot players were besides killed by a landslide astatine a training centre operated by nan All Nepal Football Association successful Makwanpur, to nan south-west of nan capital.

Others person been swept up successful floodwaters.

In 1 melodramatic scene, 4 group hopeless to beryllium rescued were washed distant by nan Nakkhu River successful nan confederate Kathmandu valley.

"For hours, they kept connected pleading for help," Jitendra Bhandari, an eyewitness, told nan BBC. "We could do nothing."

Three of those group were rescued downstream, but 1 is still missing.

Hari Om Malla mislaid his motortruck aft it was submerged by h2o successful Kathmandu.

He told nan BBC that h2o had "gushed" into nan compartment arsenic nan rainfall intensified connected Friday night.

"We jumped out, swam, and sewage distant from it - but my purse, container and mobile person been swept distant by nan river. I person thing now. We stayed nan full nighttime successful nan cold."

So far, much than 2,000 group person been rescued from floodwaters, while astatine slightest 200 houses person been damaged, according to nan state-run Radio Nepal.

The Nepalese location affairs ministry said that arsenic of Saturday, 60 group had been injured.

Private houses, offices, shopping centres, hospitals and constabulary posts were seen inundated successful videos posted successful societal media.

Government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung told nan state-run Nepal Television Corporation that nan flooding had besides surgery waterpipes, and affected telephone and powerfulness lines.

According to authorities media, 10,000 constabulary officers, arsenic good arsenic volunteers and members of nan army, person been mobilised arsenic portion of hunt and rescue efforts.

The Nepalese authorities urged group to debar unnecessary travel, and banned roadworthy recreation astatine nighttime successful nan Kathmandu vale to minimise roadworthy accidents.

Most highways - including nan ones connecting Kathmandu vale pinch nan remainder of nan state - person been blocked successful respective places.

Air recreation was besides affected connected Friday and Saturday, pinch galore home flights delayed aliases cancelled.

Monsoon play brings tragic floods and landslides each twelvemonth successful Nepal.

Scientists say, though, that rainfall events are becoming much aggravated owed to ambiance change.

A warmer ambiance tin clasp much moisture, while warmer water waters tin energise large wind systems, making them much erratic.