At least 66 dead and dozens missing in Nepal floods

At slightest 66 radical person died and 69 others are missing, officials say, aft aggravated rainfall successful Nepal caused flooding and landslides.

The decease toll successful the cardinal Asian federation is apt to emergence arsenic the rains - which person predominantly affected the vale surrounding the capital, Kathmandu - are expected to persist done to Tuesday.

Thousands of homes situated adjacent rivers person been flooded and astir highways person been blocked, portion video footage has emerged of radical stranded connected rooftops.

The measurement of rainfall wrong a abbreviated timespan - implicit 200mm (7.9in) since Friday evening - has inundated astir each rivers successful the Kathmandu valley, wherever galore of the deaths person occurred.

Landslides person besides caused a fig of the fatalities.

Five people, including a large pistillate and a four-year-old girl, died erstwhile a location collapsed owed to a landslide successful Bhaktapur, to the eastbound of Kathmandu, authorities media reports.

Two bodies person been removed from a autobus buried by a landslide successful Dhading, westbound of Kathmandu. Twelve people, including the driver, were said to beryllium onboard.

Six shot players were besides killed by a landslide astatine a grooming centre operated by the All Nepal Football Association successful Makwanpur, to the south-west of the capital.

Others person been swept up successful floodwaters.

In 1 melodramatic scene, 4 radical hopeless to beryllium rescued were washed distant by the Nakkhu River successful the confederate Kathmandu valley.

"For hours, they kept connected pleading for help," Jitendra Bhandari, an eyewitness, told the BBC. "We could bash nothing."

Three of those radical were rescued downstream, but 1 is inactive missing.

Hari Om Malla mislaid his motortruck aft it was submerged by h2o successful Kathmandu.

He told the BBC that h2o had "gushed" into the compartment arsenic the rainfall intensified connected Friday night.

"We jumped out, swam, and got distant from it - but my purse, container and mobile person been swept distant by the river. I person thing now. We stayed the full nighttime successful the cold."

So far, much than 2,000 radical person been rescued from floodwaters, portion astatine slightest 200 houses person been damaged, according to the state-run Radio Nepal.

The Nepalese location affairs ministry said that arsenic of Saturday, 60 radical had been injured.

Private houses, offices, buying centres, hospitals and constabulary posts were seen inundated successful videos posted successful societal media.

Government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung told the state-run Nepal Television Corporation that the flooding had besides breached waterpipes, and affected telephone and powerfulness lines.

According to authorities media, 10,000 constabulary officers, arsenic good arsenic volunteers and members of the army, person been mobilised arsenic portion of hunt and rescue efforts.

The Nepalese authorities urged radical to debar unnecessary travel, and banned roadworthy question astatine nighttime successful the Kathmandu vale to minimise roadworthy accidents.

Most highways - including the ones connecting Kathmandu vale with the remainder of the state - person been blocked successful respective places.

Air question was besides affected connected Friday and Saturday, with galore home flights delayed oregon cancelled.

Monsoon play brings tragic floods and landslides each twelvemonth successful Nepal.

Scientists say, though, that rainfall events are becoming much aggravated owed to clime change.

A warmer ambiance tin clasp much moisture, portion warmer water waters tin energise tempest systems, making them much erratic.