Monsoon-triggered incidents claim lives of 73 people

KATHMANDU: Monson-related incidents claimed the lives of 73 people between June 14 and August 25 this year.

The casualties were due to landslides, floods, heavy rains and lightning strikes.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that 102 individuals sustained injuries as a result of these monsoon-triggered disasters while 20 have gone missing.

Authority Executive Chief Anil Pokhrel said the country witnessed 135 cases of flooding, 429 incidents of landslides, 116 occurrences of heavy rainfall, and 83 cases of lightning strikes in this period.

Among the victims, 12 were killed in the flooding, 38 in landslides, two died due to heavy rains and 21 were killed in lightning strikes.

The monsoon has inflicted damages on various hydroelectricity projects, causing a total loss of around Rs 8.5 billion. It is said 17 under-construction projects with a combined capacity of 326.83 megawatts and 13 projects totaling 132.75 megawatts have been affected.

Additionally, the monsoon disasters have caused significant damages to the infrastructure sector. It caused the loss of Rs 400 million when it damaged 29 highways, and the overall loss to physical properties surpasses Rs 15 billion.

Four motorable bridges and 22 suspension bridges were washed away in various parts of the country, causing the loss of around Rs 410 million.

Furthermore, flooding and landslides resulted in the damage of 28 federal drinking water projects, incurring a loss of around Rs 90 million.

It is estimated that it would cost over Rs 10.55 billion to restore the damaged infrastructures.