The death toll in the devastating Nepal floods, caused by incessant monsoon rains, has reached 90, with 29 people still missing, the Nepal Home Ministry confirmed on Thursday, 18 July.
So far, over 3,366 people have been rescued from across the nation.
Heavy monsoon rains for the past few days have left many settlements at high risk of floods and landslides in several places in Nepal. Transportation has also been disrupted in all major highways.
Rain-fed rivers have also started to erode embankments putting nearby settlements at high risk of flooding.
“The rain-triggered disasters have caused havoc across the country killing at least 28 persons,” the Nepal Police had said in its news bulletin earlier on Saturday.
Mainly provinces 1 and 2 have been affected due to the landslides and the heavy downpour.
Deaths were reported from various districts, including Lalitpur, Kavre, Kotang, Bhojpur, Makanpur among others.
Meanwhile, human resources and equipment from police offices have been mobilised in the areas affected by the rain-triggered disaster.
“The works related to rescue operation have been intensified,” a senior Home Ministry official said. It is estimated that around 6,000 people have been badly affected by the flood-water having inundated their houses.
People are obliged to stay in community buildings to save their life, My Republica reported.
Appeal to International Agencies for Help
An emergency meeting was called on Sunday, 14 July, to take stock of the damage been caused by the rains.
Representatives of the World Health Organisation Nepal Office, the United Nations Children's Fund, (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other agencies were present at the meeting, The Kathmandu Post reported.
The Health Emergency Operation Centre, set up by the Ministry of Health and Population, has asked international partner agencies to help mobilise their mechanisms in the flood- and landslide-affected districts.
They have asked for help to prevent possible water-borne diseases and to ensure proper health services.
“We have also requested them to mobilise their local channels in the areas of need. All our international partner agencies are ready to provide all kinds of help.”Chudamani Bhandari, Chief of Health Emergency Operation Centre
The Health Ministry has also directed all central-level hospitals and medical colleges to prepare emergency teams of doctors to be mobilised in disaster-hit areas, Bhandari said.
Doctors Will Be Deployed to Province 2
Three teams of doctors from the Health Ministry will be deployed on Monday to Pathlaiya of Bara district, Lahan of Siraha district and Bardibas of Mahottari district of Province 2, one of the provinces which have been hit the worst by the floods.
The teams will coordinate with the provincial and local governments to ensure health services are provided to those in need.
Health experts have warned of possible outbreaks of water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E in the flood-hit areas of the Tarai region, as most of the water resources have been contaminated by floodwater, the report said.
“Cases of malaria, dengue, kalajar could go up and people in the affected areas are vulnerable to snake bites as well,” said Dr Sameer Kumar Adhikari, an official at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.
The division has also urged all provincial governments to not allow health workers to take leave during the monsoon, which is considered an epidemic season.
Provinces 1, 2 and 3 are the worst hit, with Lalitpur, Bhojpur and Rautahat witnessing the highest death toll, The Himalayan Times reported.
Provincial governments have decided to provide relief for flood and landslide victims. They will also provide free medical treatment to the 38 people who have been injured thus far.
Increased Risk of Landslides
According to the Flood Forecasting Section as of Sunday, the water level of the major rivers is coming down.
The section, however, has warned people to remain alert, as risk of landslides has increased due to continuous rainfall for the last four days, it said.
The Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) asked the public to remain on high alert and said that air and road traffic can be affected due to low visibility.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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