Landslides kill 15 people in western Nepal

Jul 13, 2007, 7:39 GMT

Kathmandu - At least 15 people were killed and three others missing after landslides hit two distinct districts in western Nepal, officials said Friday.

The worst-affected was Ghalichour village in Baglung district, about 200 kilometres west of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, which suffered two separate landslides Thursday night after heavy monsoon rains.

Police said landslides had swept away 16 houses along with their occupants who were sleeping at the time of the tragedy.

'The landslide killed 10 people, including four sheltering in the same house with another three people still missing,' Superintendent of Police Pawan Prasad Kharel said.

At least 16 people were injured in the landslide.

Rescue operations were being hampered by continuing rain and bad weather in the area, Kharel said.

Another five people also died when a landslide hit the mid-western district of Bajura, about 350 kilometres west of Kathmandu.

Government officials said five people, including an infant, were buried alive when their house was hit by a landslide in Badevmalathi Village.

West Nepal is reeling under heavy monsoon rains since Thursday morning.

The country's meteorological department said areas in western Nepal had received heavy rainfall with some places recording in excess of 100 millimetres of rain in a 24-hour period.

Hundreds of people die in landslides and flash floods across Nepal during monsoon that runs between mid-June and the end of September.