At least 25 people have been killed and 400 others injured when a massive rainstorm devastated villages in two districts of Nepal, officials said.
According to Himalayan Times, Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Prem Kumar Rai said that the storm started striking the villages of Bara and Parsa districts located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of the capital, Kathmandu on Sunday evening at around 1945 hrs local time and lasted for one hour.
He said, ” 23 people were found dead in Bara district and two in Parsa district. At least 400 injured people have been hospitalised. The death toll is expected to rise as the storm had hit many villages in the Bara district.”
Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli expressed his condolences in a tweet and said “I am deeply saddened to learn this tragedy. I pay tribute to those killed in the incident and express deep condolences to the bereaved families.”
He said security forces have been alerted. Rescue and helicopters with night vision capabilities were waiting for the weather to clear to help bring the injured from the villages.
Rajesh Paudel, the top bureaucrat of Bara district said that police and army rescuers were fanned around the district trying to reach the villages, but rescue efforts were difficult at night.
The injured were being brought to a hospital by cars and ambulances, but roads in many villages had been blocked by fallen trees and electricity poles.
Media reported that hundreds of houses, public and private vehicles have been destroyed due to the devastating storm. (UNI)
