Nepal rescuers have recovered dozens of bodies from vehicles buried in landslides near Kathmandu, bringing the death toll from flooding to at least 129, with many still missing, officials said Sunday.
After three days of monsoon rains, the weather improved, allowing rescue and clean-up operations to commence.
However, Kathmandu remains isolated as landslides have blocked all three highways out of the city.
Rescuers found 14 bodies overnight from two buses and another 23 on Sunday in the same area, 16 kilometers from the capital.
Nepal police reported 86 injuries and 62 missing, with the toll expected to rise as reports continue from remote villages.
In the southern region of Kathmandu, residents began cleaning their homes as floodwaters started to recede after Saturday’s deluge. The city, hit hardest by the flooding, saw at least 34 deaths.
Police and soldiers joined rescue operations while heavy machinery was deployed to clear roads blocked by landslides. In response to the disaster, the government ordered a three-day closure of schools and colleges nationwide.
Nepal’s monsoon season, which started in June, typically concludes by mid-September.
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