By Sumayya
A large section of a mountain slid down into the Kali Gandaki River in Nepal’s Mustang area after days of heavy downpours. The intense rainfall caused major floods and mudslides all over the country. A video from the location shows the mountainside falling apart in just a few seconds while people nearby shout in fear and run away to save themselves.
At least 24 individuals have lost their lives and 14 others are still missing across multiple areas, media outlets reported on Monday. The reports stated that the heavy water damaged houses, roads, bridges, and electricity networks in Manang, Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat, and Palpa areas.
Ten deaths were recorded in Baglung, six in Myagdi, and two in Manang, according to the news updates. Five individuals died in Palpa, while another person lost their life due to a mudslide in the Dhanusha area.
The police stated that 10 individuals went missing in Manang, three in Myagdi, and one in Baglung. Four individuals were reported hurt, including two in Lamjung and one each in Baglung and Myagdi.
Citing Nepal’s disaster management officials, the reports noted that the Kali Gandaki River caused the worst destruction. Heavy water flows and land erosion were also seen along the Narayani and Tinau rivers.
The high water and mudslides directly impacted 747 families. Around 1,500 individuals from 435 homes were forced to leave their properties in Gandaki province, while hundreds of other houses were ruined or remained in danger.
A strong concrete bridge connecting Syangja and Gulmi was washed away after the water in the Kali Gandaki River rose dangerously high. Officials completely opened all three gates of the Mirmi dam and stopped electricity production at the 144 MW Kali Gandaki A power plant.
The flooding also wrecked power poles and stopped electricity work at multiple power stations. News sources reported that issues on the main transmission lines cut off 358.2 MW of electricity supply.
This severe disaster hit after multiple days of heavy monsoon downpours across Nepal. An earlier report on Sunday had stated the death count was 21 and noted that rescue teams had saved 1,284 individuals from 439 different rain incidents over five days.
The earlier reports also mentioned that the Tinau, Narayani, and Riu rivers had flowed past their danger marks in several spots. Officials strongly warned people living in dangerous low-lying areas to stay very alert as the rain kept falling.
Additionally, two mountain climbers were killed by a snow slide at Himlung Himal in Manang on Sunday. The news reports added that severe weather conditions had blocked rescue teams from searching for the other members of the climbing group.
