As survivors complained that they have not received any government assistance, Nepalese authorities searched Friday for the missing among the dozens of people affected by this week’s heavy rains and floods.
Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, a spokesperson for police, stated that the death toll in the country’s western and eastern parts has surpassed 100.
Kunwar stated that at least 40 people have been hurt by landslides or house collapses and 41 others were still missing.
Some areas saw a halt to the downpour, and it is expected that the weather will improve over the weekend in the Himalayan country.
This week, heavy rains caused havoc in India, with at least 88 deaths and roads flooding, destroying bridges, and causing landslides which washed away many homes.
Sher Bahadur deuba, Nepal’s Prime Minster, visited flood-stricken regions in the west region on Thursday and promised a government aid package. Many families, however, said that they are still waiting for supplies from the government and were facing difficult times on their own.
Bhimraj Shahi lost six relatives in the landslides in remote Humla District. Rescue teams arrived at the scene more than 10 hours after being struck on Monday.
Shahi stated, “Although there was an announcement by the government, the actual aid has not yet arrived for their family.”
Azmat Ulla, International Federation of Red Crescen, stated that the disasters have decimated crops and homes, causing further damage to families already struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said, “People of Nepal and India are caught between the pandemics and worsening weather disasters that have heavily affected millions of lives and livelihoods.”
Kunwar stated that rescue teams have assisted in moving people to safer areas and transferring dozens of the injured to hospitals.
Authorities are still trying to determine the extent of the damage and how many people were displaced.
Floods and landslides are common in India’s Himalayan North. Scientists believe they are increasing in frequency as global warming causes melting glaciers.
Flash floods in India’s northern Uttarakhand state killed almost 200 people in February and washed away homes. There were thousands of flood-related deaths in 2013 there.
