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Three major rivers above danger mark, 17 killed in floods and landslides across Nepal

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At least 17 people have been killed and three are still missing after heavy monsoon rains triggered floods and landslides across Nepal over the past two days, authorities said Tuesday, July 3, 2018.

Hundreds of people were displaced after rain-swollen rivers started eroding embankments and inundating several settlements in Terai region. Landslides hit several mountainous areas while hundreds of homes and farmlands ended up under floodwaters.

The heaviest casualties occurred in the country's mid-western and eastern regions, said Banshiraj Acharya, the ministry's undersecretary.

At least three people died in Banke, Baijanath rural municipality on July 2 in flood-related incidents the police said happened due to negligence. Three people died in Rolpa, Runtigadi rural municipality-5 when a boundary wall just above their house collapsed and hit the kitchen. In a separate incident, an elderly woman died and her husband was injured when their house collapsed at Godawari Municipality-9 on July 1.

One person was killed and one went missing after a group of students returning home from school attempted to cross the flooded Panthi stream in Prasagadhi municipality-5.

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Scores of houses were waterlogged in wards 2, 5 and 6 of Bhajani municipality, according to The Kathmandu Post. "Personnel from Nepal Police and Armed Police Force are on high alert for rescue and relief as required. We have urged local residents to move to safety," said Janak Raj Bhatta, the Kailali assistant chief district officer.

Meanwhile, various settlements in Birgunj were inundated. Adarshanagar, Panitanki, Ranighat, Bhishwa, Nagawa and Chhapkaiya, among other areas, have been inundated. Several places in Sarlahi and Nawalparasi were also flooded.

Locals at Gudariya in Susta rural municipality-2 took matters into their own hands and broke a part of Gandak dam, a joint irrigation and power project between Nepal and India, to channelize floodwaters into the canal after their settlements and farmlands flooded.

Three major rivers originating in the Himalayas have crossed the danger mark and authorities have advised people living near them to move to safer places.

Featured image credit: eKantipur, July 2018.

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