KATHMANDU: Human casualties from natural disasters have risen over the past 90 days of the monsoon this year compared to the same period last year.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 225 people died in monsoon-induced disasters from June 10 to September 7.
During this period, 49 individuals went missing and 284 were injured. Despite the increase in casualties, the total number of affected people has decreased compared to the previous year.
The NDRRMA note that a total of 4,615 people were affected this year.
In contrast, last year’s figures for the same period were 85 deaths, 29 missing, and 126 injuries, with 6,030 people affected overall.
This year, Bagmati Province experienced the highest number of casualties with 57 deaths, while Madhesh Province reported the fewest with 5 deaths.
Landslides were the leading cause of casualties, with 135 deaths, followed by heavy rain at 40 deaths, flooding at 49 deaths, and lightning at 40 deaths.
Among the 62 people who went missing after two passenger buses were caught in an earthflow at Simlaltal in Bharatpur Metropolis, Chitwan, on July 12, 24 bodies have been recovered.
Notably, Dodhara Chandani in Kanchanpur district recorded unprecedented rainfall on July 7 due to a Terai cloudburst, with 624 mm of rain measured in just 24 hours, marking the highest rainfall recorded in the past 77 years.
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