At least 17 people have been killed in landslides triggered by heavy rain in western Nepal in the past 24 hours, an official said on Saturday. The landslides occurred in different parts of the Achham district of the Sudurpaschim province, which has been badly affected by floods caused by incessant rainfall for the last few days. According to acting chief district officer Dipesh Rijal, at least 17 people have been confirmed dead in landslides in the district, which is about 450 km (281 miles) west of the capital city of Kathmandu. Eleven people, who sustained injuries in the incidents were airlifted to the Surkhet district for treatment. Three persons have gone missing in the landslides, according to the official. Nepal Police personnel have been mobilized and rescue work is on to search for the missing persons, he added. The number of casualties could increase, said the official, adding that Bhimdutta Highway connecting seven districts in the province was also disrupted due to the disaster. Communication service has also been affected in Achham due to the incidents. Floods and landslides frequently occur in the mountainous areas of Nepal, particularly between June and September. Incessant rainfalls from Friday morning triggered landslides during the night, which swept away houses in three different parts of the district in far-western Nepal. "The rescue teams have recovered the bodies of 17 people and rescued 11 injured people from the scenes," Min Raj Acharya, an official from the district, said. "The search for five missing people is ongoing," he added, noting that the army and the police have been mobilized for the rescue operations. Of the injured, three were in serious condition and they have been airlifted for treatment in the neighboring province, Acharya said. Last week, at least two people were killed and 11 were missing in the flood and landslide in the Bangabagad area of Darchula district of Nepal. The incessant rainfall resulted in flooding of the Lasku and Mahakali Rivers, which swept away houses and two bridges. Nepal has been recording many casualties attributed to flooding and landslide disasters during the monsoon season annually. — Agnecies
