Kathmandu: The death toll from flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains in Nepal climbed to 104 after 16 more fatalities were reported from various parts of the country, officials said. Forty-one people have gone missing and many have been injured in the incidents so far, according to the latest data published by the ministry's Disaster Management Division. According to a Home Ministry statement, the highest number of fatalities, 62 were reported from Province No. 1, followed by Sudur Paschim Province with 31 fatalities and Karnali Province with seven fatalities.
In Province 1, where the death toll has reached 62, 20 have been injured and 13 have gone missing. Of the total 62 fatalities, 14 were reported in Ilam, 26 in Panchthar, seven in Dhankuta, eight in Sunsari, two in Udayapur, and one each in Morang, Solukhumbu and Bhojpur.
Meanwhile, home minister Balkrishna Khand has directed the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department and Nepal Army to promptly rescue the foreign tourists stranded in Humla district. Twelve people, including four Slovenian tourists and three guides, are stranded at Nakhla in Humla district, 700 km west of Kathmandu after heavy snowfall blocked the road at Limi area. They were on their way back to Simikot after completing their trekking expedition at Limi, Humla Chief District Officer Ganesh Acharya said.
Snowfall started in the area and the rescue work could not be carried out due to bad weather. The local administration has sought a helicopter from the home ministry to carry out the rescue operation, officials said.
