Over 60 dead in Nepal, India as landslides and floods ravage region

Kathmandu:Landslides and floods triggered by intense rainfall have killed more than 60 people across Nepal and neighbouring India, as rescue teams rush to reach remote areas cut off by the deluge.

Nepal has been battered by heavy downpours since Friday, causing rivers to overflow and low-lying areas to flood. At least 44 people have died, with the worst-hit region being the eastern district of Illam, where 37 fatalities were reported following multiple landslides. Five people remain missing.

“Heavy rains overnight caused the landslides,” said a local official, adding that many roads were blocked, making rescue efforts challenging. Helicopters and motorboats have been deployed to assist stranded residents, while swollen rivers in Kathmandu have flooded nearby settlements.

A vegetable seller in the capital said a timely flood alert allowed some residents to move belongings to safety before the waters rose.

Across the border in India, at least 20 people were killed in the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal, where flash floods and landslides destroyed homes and infrastructure. The region was lashed by heavy overnight rain, with rescue workers using ropes and cables to reach cut-off communities.

“In the wake of last night’s heavy cyclone in the Darjeeling hills, over 20 people have lost their lives,” said a senior official. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "pained by the loss of lives" and confirmed that the situation was being closely monitored.

India’s weather department issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in sub-Himalayan regions through Monday.

In Bhutan, rising river levels prompted the Indian army to assist in evacuation efforts, using military helicopters to rescue stranded civilians in border areas like Phuentsholing.

(with inputs from PTI & AP)