Nepal: Floods, landslides claim 74

Floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain have claimed 74 lives across Nepal, officials said.

Eight persons died Sunday in Udayapur and Dhanusha.

Five districts of Terai including Udaypur in eastern Terai, Mahottari, Dhanusha and Saptari in central Terai and Banke and Bardia in the west, are the worst hit by the floods, home ministry officials said.

Some 87,649 people have been displaced by the flood that has completely damaged 5,000 houses in Terai.

The government has mobilized army, police and Red Cross volunteers to carry out rescue works and relief activities in the districts with the help of six helicopters, the officials said.

Nepal government has sought help from international communities and donor agencies for the flood affected people.

The government has also created a fund of Rs. 50 million and the cabinet has decided to contribute seven days salary of each cabinet minister to the fund.