Landslides kill 18 in Ilam
Kathmandu: At least 18 people have been killed in Ilam district of Koshi Province after landslides, triggered by days of relentless rainfall, buried homes and swept away settlements in multiple locations.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Man Bahadur Rai, spokesperson for the Ilam District Police Office, fatalities have been reported in Ilam Municipality, Suryodaya Municipality, Deumai Municipality, Mangsebung Rural Municipality, and Phakphokthum Rural Municipality. The dead include five people in Suryodaya-1, Manebhanjyang; three in Mangsebung-1, Pati Gaun; three in Deumai Municipality (one in Dhore and two in Dhusune); one in Ratmate, Phakphokthum; and six in Ghosgaun, Ilam.
The identities of the victims have yet to be confirmed. The landslides come amid incessant rainfall that has battered the country, causing widespread flooding, cutting off road access, and increasing the risk of further disasters in the hilly terrain. The continuous downpour has thrown life out of gear in several parts of the country, overwhelming local infrastructure and emergency response systems.
Rescue efforts are currently underway, with personnel from the Armed Police Force’s Shree Antu Battalion deployed to the worst-affected areas. Authorities have urged residents in high-risk zones to evacuate. Rains showed signs of abating on Sunday, but according to a weather bulletin issued by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, moderate rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning is expected in many areas of Koshi and Madhesh provinces, as well as in some hilly and Terai regions of the remaining provinces.
Additionally, there is a possibility of heavy rainfall at one or two locations in Koshi and Madhesh provinces. According to the Department, the weather will remain generally cloudy in the hilly regions of Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati Province, and other hilly areas of the country, while the rest of the regions will experience partly cloudy conditions.