31 Killed, 600 Injured as Freak Storm Hits Nepal

A woman sits in the middle of the debris of a residential house damaged in rainstorm in Bara district, 125 kilometers (75 miles) south of Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, 1 April, 2019. 

(Photo: PTI)

The death toll in the freak storm that battered several places in Southern Nepal on Sunday, 31 March, has risen to 31, while 600 others have been left injured as high-speed winds tore down houses, flipped vehicles and toppled trees and electricity poles.

Massive winds accompanied by hailstorms and rain struck Bara and the adjoining district of Parsa late on Sunday evening. According to officials, 28 people were killed in Bara, 128 kilometers south of Kathmandu, one person died in neighbouring Parsa, while two more died in other parts of Southern Nepal.

High winds flipped cars and blew one passenger bus off a highway, causing fatalities. According to police, many people were either killed after getting buried under rubbles of houses and metal roofs that flung all over the settlements, or after coming under the electric pylons and trees that were uprooted as the disaster advanced.

The destruction in Bara district. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

According to Province 2 Attorney General Dipendra Jha, majority of the 600 injured are from Pheta and Bhulahi Bharwaliya areas in Bara's Pheta Rural Municipality, which have mostly been affected by the hailstorm.

Every year hundreds die in landslides and floods during Nepal's monsoon season, but storms causing such high casualties in spring are rare.

Expect the Number of Casualties to Rise: Officials

According to District Police Office, Parsa, the number of casualties could see a rise as rescue efforts have gained pace.

The estimates of infrastructural damages incurred in the disaster are yet to be ascertained as the storm has damaged hundreds of houses, electric pylons, while uprooted trees have obstructed the roads and highways.

The storm also damaged over 12 passenger buses that were parked along the roadside during the incident, police added. The natural disaster also led to a power outage last night while the internet services have resumed in the affected districts.

Security agencies including two battalions of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force of Nepal have been mobilised to carry out rescue and relief operation in the affected areas, according to Bara’s Chief District Officer (CDO) Rajesh Poudel.

An emergency meeting of Province 2 Council of Ministers held on Monday decided to provide Rs 300,000 to each victim's family along with relief package including tents, food items, medical supplies, among others.

Further, the province government has urged the health institutions to provide free treatment to the injured. The shortage of blood supplies has been taken care of at the moment while medical supplies are also well-stocked.

Declare State of Emergency in Affected Areas: Province Govt

The Province 2 government has urged the central government to declare a state of emergency in the affected areas.

Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has expressed sadness over the loss of lives and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The prime minister also visited the storm-hit areas.

Bara district is situated about 128 kilometres south of Kathmandu.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli also expressed sadness over the loss of lives and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

According to the National Emergency Operation Centre, the injured are undergoing treatment at various health facilities.

Workers Come Forward With Food, Shelter

Government workers and private volunteers provided food, tents and clothing on Tuesday to the thousands of people in southern Nepal who lost their homes and belongings in storm, reported AP.

Police officers and soldiers helped dig through debris to help the victims salvage what was left of their belongings and the victims asked the government for help to rebuild their homes and farms.

“We are asking the government to come and help us rebuild our homes and help us get back on our feet,” said Sunil Ahmed, a farmer who lost his family home in the storm. “It has become very difficult for us now. I don’t know what to do next or where to go,” he said.

The government said it was collecting information on the damage and would soon announce relief plans to help the victims.

Army and police trucks loaded with the food and supplies were being sent by the government to the rural villages in two districts located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of the capital, Kathmandu, the AP report said.

Private organizations and volunteers also collected donations in other parts of the country.

Businesses from neighbouring cities were bringing in food and distributing it to families who lined up at the village centre.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI and AP.)