Kathmandu, Sep 30 (EFE).- The death toll in the severe rains that lashed large parts of Nepal over the last four days reached 193 while another 96 were injured, according to the authorities on Monday.
Search and rescue operations were underway to locate the more than 30 people who remained missing due to the floods and landslides, which was particularly severe in the Kathmandu Valley.
Deputy Inspector General of the Armed Police, Kumar Neupane, told EFE that more than 10,000 members of the security forces were taking part in the search and relief operations, which included the removal of debris and mud that cut off major roads connecting Kathmandu.
“The security personnel have opened one-way traffic connecting the capital Kathmandu,” said Neupane, adding that it may take weeks to clear all the debris that have blocked the highways.
This cutting off of roads to Kathmandu since Friday has led to a rise in food prices in the capital city.
The Nepalese capital was one of the areas most affected by rainfall, which on Saturday recorded the highest volume since 1970, causing rivers to overflow and flooding entire neighborhoods.
The Neupane said that 1,327 houses have been damaged, leaving thousands of people displaced, while 19 bridges have collapsed.
He added that the death toll could rise further after the waters recede and rescue teams manage to remove all the debris.
Although schools remained closed for the second consecutive day despite rains having reduced, normalcy slowly returned to the streets of Kathmandu with shops reopening.
There is no rain forecast for the next three days.
Nepal is witnessing an extended monsoon season this year. While it normally begins in mid-June and ends in late September, this year will continue until the first week of October on account of a low pressure over the Bay of Bengal. EFE
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