Monsoon triggers disaster: Landslides & lightning claim 9 lives

KATHMANDU: With monsoon active across the country, the risks of lightning, floods, landslides, and inundation have increased. In less than 12 hours, nine people have died in various natural disasters in different parts of Nepal.

In Kaski, two people died in a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall since Tuesday. The deceased are 13-year-old Ayushma Ranabhat from Madi Rural Municipality and 3-year-old Anmol Sunar from Pokhara Metropolitan City.

According to the District Police Office, Ayushma Ranabhat died when a landslide occurred behind her house around 1:45 AM, burying her while she was sleeping with her grandmother. Though her 70-year-old grandmother, Lalmaya Banjari, was rescued safely, Ayushma could not be saved.

In another incident in Pokhara-27, Aarupata, a house belonging to 31-year-old Hari Sunar was buried by a landslide, resulting in the death of his 3-year-old son, Anmol. Hari’s 27-year-old wife, Ritu Sunar, was injured and has been sent to Gandaki Medical College for further treatment.

In Lamjung, one body was found out of the four people missing in a landslide in Pachyutol, Khwolasothar Rural Municipality-3. The body of 69-year-old Rudraman Gurung was recovered, while the search for the remaining three missing persons continues. The landslide buried three houses, and one person was injured.

Local residents and police have been searching for the missing persons since early morning. The landslide buried the houses of Chitra Ghale, Rudraman Gurung, and Panchakumari Gurung. 36-year-old Panchakumari Gurung and her daughters, 5-year-old Namrata and 7-year-old Iccha Gurung, are still missing, according to Inspector Thaneswar Chapain of the District Police Office.

In Dordy Rural Municipality-9, a 16-year-old boy named Bikal Sunar died when his house collapsed due to a landslide. His 18-year-old brother, Milan Sunar, was injured in the incident. The landslide has also blocked the Besisahar-Chame road, which connects Lamjung and Manang.

In Okhaldhunga, one person died, and two were injured when a landslide buried their house in Thumki, Chisankhugadhi Rural Municipality-5, this morning. The deceased is 35-year-old Devkumari Khatri. Her husband, 39-year-old Baburam Khatri, and 18-year-old daughter, Menuka, were seriously injured and have been taken to the hospital.

Meanwhile, two people died due to lightning strikes in Kailali. According to the District Police Office, 31-year-old Jayaram Dagaura from Joshipur Rural Municipality-3 and 47-year-old Salin Chaudhary from Dhungadhi Sub-Metropolitan City-18 died from lightning strikes on Wednesday morning.

Three girls were seriously injured by lightning while on their way to school in Budeni, Ghodaghodi Municipality-9. The injured are 9-year-old Saraswati Bhul, 7-year-old Paru Kathayat, and 10-year-old Khima Kathayat. They were struck by lightning at the gate of Mohanyam Basic School, Budeni.

In Kapilvastu, two people died due to lightning strikes this morning while heading to work in the fields. The deceased are 22-year-old Mahesh Kalwar from Yashodhara Rural Municipality-6, Bhaisaia, and 17-year-old Raju Thakur from Buddhbhumi Municipality-10, Dhankouli. Their bodies have been taken to Kapilvastu Hospital for post-mortem.