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Nepal flooding and landslides kill scores Nepal flooding and landslides kill scores
(7 months later)
Four more bodies have been found buried under mud in Nepal, pushing the death toll from landslides and flooding to 89, with 109 people still missing. Four more bodies have been found buried under mud in Nepal, pushing the death toll from landslides and flooding to 89, with 109 people still missing.
Torrential rain last week stranded thousands of villagers and sparked fears of a cholera outbreak. Torrential rain last week stranded thousands of villagers and sparked fears of a cholera outbreak.
The rains have damaged roads across the Himalayan country's western plains bordering India, forcing officials to use helicopters to rescue stranded people and deliver emergency supplies.The rains have damaged roads across the Himalayan country's western plains bordering India, forcing officials to use helicopters to rescue stranded people and deliver emergency supplies.
"We have found four more bodies today. We are still searching for 109 people missing," said home ministry spokesman Laxmi Prasad Dhakal."We have found four more bodies today. We are still searching for 109 people missing," said home ministry spokesman Laxmi Prasad Dhakal.
As the weather cleared, improving visibility after three days of rain, army helicopters were able to evacuate about 20,000 people.As the weather cleared, improving visibility after three days of rain, army helicopters were able to evacuate about 20,000 people.
"We are concerned about a possible outbreak of cholera because of all the dead bodies and livestock lying underwater," Dhakal said."We are concerned about a possible outbreak of cholera because of all the dead bodies and livestock lying underwater," Dhakal said.
Cholera is spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated by the faeces of people infected with the disease, which can kill within hours if left untreated. It causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps.Cholera is spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated by the faeces of people infected with the disease, which can kill within hours if left untreated. It causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps.
"We are on alert to make sure people don't consume contaminated water, now or after they return to their homes over the coming week," Dhakal said."We are on alert to make sure people don't consume contaminated water, now or after they return to their homes over the coming week," Dhakal said.
National disaster management chief Yadav Prasad Koirala said authorities had "mobilised health workers to set up camps and provide people with clean drinking water and dry food".National disaster management chief Yadav Prasad Koirala said authorities had "mobilised health workers to set up camps and provide people with clean drinking water and dry food".
As water levels recede, rescuers have started moving people from their damaged homes into temporary shelters, but large areas remain submerged, preventing helicopters from landing to let workers search for those still missing, Koirala said.Villagers in Surkhet, the worst-affected district, described their horror at being awoken by news that the nearby Bheri river was overflowing early on Friday.As water levels recede, rescuers have started moving people from their damaged homes into temporary shelters, but large areas remain submerged, preventing helicopters from landing to let workers search for those still missing, Koirala said.Villagers in Surkhet, the worst-affected district, described their horror at being awoken by news that the nearby Bheri river was overflowing early on Friday.
"My neighbours woke me up, I gathered my family and we just ran uphill to save ourselves … I didn't even have time to cut my cattle loose so they could flee," said farmer Prem Bahadur Pun."My neighbours woke me up, I gathered my family and we just ran uphill to save ourselves … I didn't even have time to cut my cattle loose so they could flee," said farmer Prem Bahadur Pun.
"By morning, our house was gone, the cattle was gone, my land was gone. I have lost everything," Pun said."By morning, our house was gone, the cattle was gone, my land was gone. I have lost everything," Pun said.
About 150 people from his village managed to escape to safety by running uphill, Pun said, but many others were not as lucky. "So many people are missing … including one of my neighbours, his wife and two grandchildren," he said.About 150 people from his village managed to escape to safety by running uphill, Pun said, but many others were not as lucky. "So many people are missing … including one of my neighbours, his wife and two grandchildren," he said.
As the anxious villagers waited for help, many were already suffering from fever, though no symptoms of cholera had been observed yet, Pun said. "No one [from the government] has come here yet. Some people are getting sick … We have some medicine, but what will we do when it runs out?" As the anxious villagers waited for help, many were already suffering from fever, though no symptoms of cholera had been observed yet, Pun said. "No one [from the government] has come here yet. Some people are getting sick … We have some medicine, but what will we do when it runs out?"
The deaths come two weeks after the worst landslide in more than a decade smashed into hamlets in the hilly north-east and killed 156 people.The deaths come two weeks after the worst landslide in more than a decade smashed into hamlets in the hilly north-east and killed 156 people.
Heavy rain in neighbouring India's Uttarakhand state has killed at least 24 people since Friday, reviving memories of a deluge last year that killed more than 5,000 people in the same region.Heavy rain in neighbouring India's Uttarakhand state has killed at least 24 people since Friday, reviving memories of a deluge last year that killed more than 5,000 people in the same region.
Media reports on Sunday said several districts in the northern Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were also flooded after heavy rain near Himalayan rivers and the release of excess water from barrages in Nepal.Media reports on Sunday said several districts in the northern Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were also flooded after heavy rain near Himalayan rivers and the release of excess water from barrages in Nepal.