Natural disasters claim 14 lives in past 24 hours; two missing

KATHMANDU: As many as 14 people lost their lives in different natural disasters over the past 24 hours. Two others are missing.

According to Nepal Police, 45 disaster incidents have been recorded across the country in the past 24 hours. Eighteen incidents of landslides have been reported in different parts of the country.

Ayushma Ranabhat (13) died when a landslide brought down a house at Chitepani Ghumti in Madi-5 on Tuesday night. Her grandmother, Lalmaya Banjara (70), was rescued by a team deployed by the Area Police Office, Shishwa. Only the two were in the house when the incident occurred, according to police.

Similarly, Hari Sunar (31) lost his son, Anmol (3), when a landslide swept away their two-room house in Arupata of Pokhara-27 on Tuesday night. Hari’s wife, Ritu (27), was injured in the incident and is receiving treatment at Gandaki Medical College, while their daughter Anjali (9) was safely rescued.

In Lamjung, four people died in a landslide in Kwholasothar-3 on Tuesday night. According to the District Police Office, Lamjung, rescue workers have recovered the bodies of Rudra Man Gurung (67), his daughter-in-law Pancha Kumari (36) and granddaughters Ichchha (8) and Namrata (4) from the debris on Wednesday afternoon.

Lightning strikes have also caused casualties in the past 24 hours. Police reported 14 lightning incidents across the country during the period. Seven people have died due to lightning strikes in Kailali, Jhapa and Kapilvastu district in the past 24 hours. Three died in Kailali, and two each in Jhapa and Kaplivastu districts, according to police.

Likewise, Premkala Chaudhary (22) died when a sudden flood swept away four members of a family in Sundar Haraicha of Morang on Tuesday. One managed to escape, while two others are missing, according to District Police Office, Morang.