At least five persons were killed in water-induced disasters in various parts of the country in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll from landslides and flooding to 90 this year.

In Kavre, seven-year-old Sajita BK died after a landslide buried a house at Dhuseni Shibalaya-6 in the district on Saturday morning. The victim’s sister and parents have sustained injuries. The landslide buried the hut of Kanchha BK, an earthquake victim, at around 3am, said police. In Jhapa, an elderly man drowned in a pit filled with rainwater at Gauradaha on Saturday. Police identified the victim as Lokmaya Poudel, 89, of Gauradaha-4. The victim fell into the pit while he was going to his neighbour’s house, said police.

In Morang, two girls, identified as Nita Niraula (13) and Sabitra Khanal (12), drowned in the Chisang stream on Friday. Their bodies were found floating in the stream.

Our correspondent from Myagdi reported that Aitasingh Damai, an octogenarian, died when his house caved in following torrential rains at Shikha-2 on Saturday. According to police, the elderly died on the spot after his two-storey stone and mud house collapsed. The victim’s wife Rupa has sustained injuries. She is receiving treatment at a local health post.

In Gulmi, around 400 families have been displaced by floods and landslides. As per records maintained by the District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee, locals of remote Hwangdi, Darling, Bhurtung and other villages have been hit the hardest. At least eight people have been killed in landslides in Hwangdi, Hastichaur and Bishukharka in the district, said police.

In Pyuthan, Nepal Army (NA) has distributed relief materials to landslide victims. NA soldiers provided relief to the landslide victims in Phopli, Khawang, Lung and Majhkot areas.

Meanwhile, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) said on Saturday that water levels in major rivers across the country have started to recede. “Rainfall activity in the last two days was moderate, hence water levels in major rivers have started to recede,” said Binod Parajuli, a hydrologist at the DHM. In the past 24 hours, none of the 41 stations installed in major river systems in the country have recorded water levels above danger mark.

Parajuli, however, added that local pressure system responsible for heavy rains in one or two places is developing, which could bring intense rains over the next two days.

(With inputs from our local correspondents)

Flood victims deprived of relief

SAPTARI: Hundreds of villagers affected by flooding  at Sakarpura, Rampura Malhaniya and Koiladi Barsain among other areas in Saptari district have been deprived of relief materials. The entire area remains submerged after floodwaters gushed into their settlements last week, according to the flood victims. “Our village is still waterlogged. We have

nothing to eat,” said Parbati Mandal of Sakarpura, one of the flood victims. “A few days ago, the District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee had distributed some relief materials, including food items. But we don’t have anything now,” said Digamber Jha, another flood victim. (PR)