Two killed people in west Nepal floods

Floodwaters from a mountain river killed at least two people and left 13 missing in a village in western Nepal where rescuers struggled to evacuate hundreds of people trapped by the flooding, officials said Tuesday.

The Shirsha River inundated a village of the same name about 700 kilometers (440 miles) northwest of Katmandu late Monday, said Dadeldhura district police chief Gopiman Shrestha.

Roads were cut off by flooding, blocking access to hundreds of people trapped in the village, but two bodies were recovered downstream as the search went on for the 13 people still missing. Shrestha said police have asked the army for a helicopter to help in the rescue.

In nearby Temandu village in Baitadi district, flooding has also caused significant damage, chief administrative officer Bhanu Dev Baru said by telephone. He said at least three people have been reported killed in the village, but rescuers have been unable to reach the area to gather more information. Baru said rescuers made several unsuccessful attempts to cross the swollen river.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people have been left homeless in Mahendranagar, a town 650 kilometers (400 miles) west of Katmandu. The Mahakali River, swollen by late monsoon rains, burst through a levee and flooded parts of the town located near the border with India.

No one has been reported killed or missing in the area because police and soldiers were able to quickly evacuate hundreds of residents. Hundreds of soldiers have been sent to the area to assist in the relief effort. Roads in the area have been blocked by flooding since the weekend, stranding hundreds of people. The heavy rainfall over the weekend in west Nepal was unusual as the lighter-than-usual monsoon season officially ended on Sept 10, AP reports.