Death toll in Nepal floods and landslides reaches 49

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, at least 13 persons were injured in the rain-related incidents and 17 others remained missing.

The latest data released by the ministry shows that 21 districts have been hit badly by the flash floods and landslides, The Himalayan Times reported.

According to the data, one person was killed in Panchthar, four in Sindhuli, Jhapa and Banke each, five in Morang, eight in Sunsari, three in Sarlahi and Surkhet each and two in Bara and Dang each.

Similarly, seven persons died in Rautahat floods and landslides, two in Bardiya, one in Dhanusha, Makawanpur, Kailai and Palpa districts each.

Jhapa, Morang Sunsari, Sapttari, Siraha, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Banke, Bardiya and Dang districts were the worst affected by flood.

Some 35,843 houses have been inundated, 1,000 houses are damaged and 397 livestock died in the floods, the ministry data said.

Many cities in the Tarai region have been inundated while transportation along the East West Highway has been halted after a pillar of Dudhaura Bridge sank at Pathlaiya-Nijgadh road section.

On Saturday, Nepal Cabinet had held an emergency meeting during which Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had ordered the local district administrations to intensify the rescue and release activities.

The water level in many rivers has crossed the danger mark and they have changed their course posing a threat to houses and livelihood.

Security agencies, including Nepal Police, the army and Armed Police Force, have been mobilised in the southern Terai districts for the relief and rescue operations .

Many highway bridges which serve as the lifeline of the nation have been damaged, obstructing vehicular movement for relief and rescue programmes.

In many places, helicopters have failed to operate due to bad weather.

The Meteorological Forecasting Division has forecast moderate to heavy rains to continue across the country for the next few days.

Chitwan: Around 600 tourists, including 200 Indians, have been stranded due to flooding in the Sauraha area of Nepal's Chitwan district, authorities said on Sunday. The swollen Rapti and Budhi Rapti rivers have inundated many hotels in the tourist destination and efforts were on to rescue the tourists trapped in flooded hotels with the help of tamed elephants, The Himayan Times reported citing Sauraha's Regional Hotel Association Chairman Suman Ghimire. The Chief District Officer and the Nepal Tourism Board have been informed about the present situation and asked to organise rescue operations. The report quoted Hotel Seven Star Managing Director Madhav Duwadi as saying that the Home Ministry has also been requested for help. The trapped tourists include 200 Nepalis and another 200 from various countries. Efforts were on to shift the trapped tourists to safer places, said Chief District Officer Narayan Prasad Bhatta, adding that four rubber rafts have been sought from nearby Devghat for the rescue operation.