Flooding in Nepal’s capital city has killed at least 66 people, as swollen rivers flooded homes forcing residents to take shelter.
Rain has been pounding Kathmandu since Friday night and is expected to continue over the weekend.
Officials warned that the death toll could rise, with another 69 people reported missing.
At least 17 people were also injured in the capital, while 1,053 were rescued, according to police.
The Bagmati River has flooded. Pic: AP
Rescue workers used helicopters and rubber boats to help people stranded on rooftops or elevated ground as some parts of Kathmandu reported up to 322.2mm of rain over the last day.
It comes after the government issued flood alerts across the nation, warning of heavy rainfall.
Buses were banned from travelling at night on motorways, and cars were discouraged from the roads. Security forces were ordered to high alert.
Pic: AP
A huge area of the city has been flooded, and an army helicopter was used to pick up four people who were unable to leave their homes.
The earliest let-up in the rains might not come until Sunday, said Binu Maharjan, a weather forecasting official in
Kathmandu, who said a low pressure system over parts of neighbouring India had caused this year’s extended rains.
Pic: AP
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Home minister Ramesh Lekhak told reporters there are reports of damage in other parts of the country, too, and officials are still collecting information.
“The government’s priority right now is to rescue the people and help those who have been affected,” he said.
The monsoon season that brings heavy rainfall began in June and usually ends by mid-September.