KATHMANDU, June 18 (Reuters) - One person was killed and at least 25 others were missing in flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains that battered east Nepal, officials said on Sunday, the first known fatality since the annual rains began last week.
Heavy rains washed away a hydroelectric project under construction on the Hewa River in Sankhuwasabha district in eastern Nepal where 16 workers have gone missing, said Bimal Paudel, a government official.
Nine people were also missing in flash floods and landslides in neighbouring Taplejung and Panchthar districts, bordering India in the east, officials said.
Gaurav Dhakal of the Panchthar district said overnight rains damaged two bridges on the Mechi highway, cutting off the road link to remote Taplejung district where four people were missing.
Hundreds are killed or go missing in rains which spark floods inundating villages, crops and damaging infrastructure every year in mostly mountainous Nepal, nestled between China and India.
Persons:
Bimal Paudel, Gaurav Dhakal, Gopal Sharma, Rupam Jain
Organizations:
Thomson
Locations:
KATHMANDU, Nepal, Sankhuwasabha district, Taplejung, India, Panchthar, China, Kathmandu, Lincoln