Landslides in Nepal sweep away villages, leave 44 dead

Rescue efforts hit as many roads washed away or blocked by the landslides

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Landslides, a lighting strike and floodings triggered by severe rainfall killed at least 44 people in Nepal yesterday, with five others reported missing, authorities said.

Those killed included at least 37 people in the eastern mountain district of Illam, where whole villages were swept away by landslides, Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said. Several other people are still missing.

Heavy rainfall was reported since Friday in the district, which borders India and is known for growing tea.

Six people in the same family were killed when a landslide crushed their home while they slept, Illam's assistant administrative officer Bholanath Guragai said.

Helicopters evacuate

Rainfall was hampering efforts to reach the villages and many roads were swept away or blocked by the landslides.