At least 148 people killed in floods and landslides in Nepal: NPR

KATHMANDU, Nepal – Rescuers in Nepal recovered dozens of bodies from buses and other vehicles buried in landslides near the capital, Kathmandu, as the death toll from floods rose to at least 148 with dozens missing, officials said Sunday.

The weather improved on Sunday after three days of monsoon rain, and rescue and clean-up efforts are still underway. Kathmandu remained isolated on Sunday as landslides blocked three highways outside the city.

Rescuers recovered 14 bodies overnight from two buses heading to Kathmandu when they were buried by a landslide. Another 23 bodies were recovered from vehicles on Sunday at the same spot, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Kathmandu, and workers searched for others who may have been buried.

A Nepali police statement said that 101 other people were injured in floods and landslides, while 50 people were considered missing. The death toll is expected to rise as reports come in from villages across the mountainous country.

People gather at the edge of the Bagmati River after heavy rains in Kathmandu, Nepal, Saturday, September 28, 2024.

Joben Rai/AFP

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Joben Rai/AFP

Residents in the southern part of Kathmandu, which was flooded on Saturday, are cleaning their homes as water levels begin to recede. At least 34 people died in Kathmandu, which was worst affected by the floods.

Police and soldiers are assisting in the rescue efforts, while heavy equipment has been used to remove landslides from the roads. The government announced the closure of schools and colleges across Nepal for the next three days.

The monsoon season begins in June and usually ends by mid-September.