Floods and landslides caused by late monsoon rains have killed about 100 people in India and Nepal, local authorities said.
Since Monday, there have been at least 48 fatalities in Nepal, police said.
Thirty other people are missing in various parts of the Himalayan country, according to Nepal police spokesperson Basanta Bahadur Kunwar.
“The death toll could go up as search-and-rescue teams continue their work,” Kunwar told dpa on Wednesday.
Dozens of people have been injured, Kunwar said.
Among the worst-affected areas are the eastern and western belt of Nepal near the Indian state of Uttarakhand.
At least 46 people died in Uttarakhand, according to the Times of India. State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, cited by broadcaster NDTV, said 34 people had died and five were missing.
- Oti MDCEs charged to win parliamentary seats in 2024
- Abesim murder: Acting IGP storms Abesim with high powered police delegation
“My condolences to the Uttarakhand flood victims,” opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter. “The situation is still serious. Do follow the safety norms.”
Nepalese authorities have forecast more rainfall this week and issued flood alerts for some settlements near big rivers.
The rains have severely damaged roads, bridges and infrastructure projects, according to Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs. Kunwar said that they are yet to ascertain the exact number of displaced households and the amount of property damaged.
Nepal is highly susceptible to natural disasters due to its mountainous terrain and presence of big rivers.