One hundred and fifty-six people are still missing in water-induced disasters while hundreds of displaced are living in dire conditions.

Mid West was hit hardest by the devastating rainfall, worst in years. Surkhet, Bardiya and Dang were greatly affected by floods and inundation.

According to our Surkhet correspondent, seven more bodies were found across the district, taking the total flood and landslide toll there to 25. As many as 119 people have gone missing.

Inspector Yogendra Hamal at District Police Office, Surkhet, said 14 of the 25 bodies were identified. He said that 2,932 people were displaced and 1,132 houses swept away. While seven school buildings were damaged 165 houses risk being swamped.

District Administration Office, Bardiya, confirmed 17 deaths and said the toll could rise. Fifteen people are out of contact. Chief District Officer Tej Prasad Poudel said more than 12,000 people were displaced and about 8,000 await rescue. He said two helicopters were used for rescue as the water level receded.

In Dang, seven people died and as many went missing while two persons were swept away by a swollen stream in Salyan. Nine and six persons are missing in Salyan and Banke districts, respectively.

Stranded on highway

Hundreds of passengers have been stranded along the Banke-Bardiya stretch of East-West Highway for the past couple of days. Transportation was obstructed as the flood damaged a bridge at Shamshergunj, Banke. “Traffic cannot resume without constructing a culvert at Shamshergunj. And it could take at least a week,” said Lokendra Malla, SP at Regional Traffic Office, Kohalpur.

Victims deprived of relief

Displaced people say they have not got any relief materials. “More than 100 villagers are living under the open sky. We have neither food nor shelter,” said Adadhram Chaudhary, a local of Phattepur in Banke district. He said they had not got anything to eat in three days. SP Shekhar Koirala said relief materials could not be transported to the affected areas since the road link had been cut off. The displaced people await help in Surkhet, Dang, Bardiya and Jajarkot districts as well.  

3 deaths elsewhere

DHANGADHI: Three missing persons were found dead in Kailali and Siraha districts on Saturday. Kailali police said two unidentified bodies were found in Rani Jamara irrigation canal and Pathariya. With water receding in rivers and rivulets, the displaced have started returning to their homes. In Siraha, the body of Albela Yadav, who was

missing as the Kamala river flooded Majhauliya village after breaching its eastern embankment, was found at Bishnupur Prara-8.