At least 44 killed as rainfall and landslides batter Nepal villages

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

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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.

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

The government said helicopters were also evacuating people needing medical evacuations and ground troops were helping move people to safer areas.

One more person was killed in landslide in a neighbouring district.

Three people in another district were killed as they were struck by lightning, while three more people died in flooding in southern Nepal.