ISTANBUL 

The death toll from landslides and flash floods triggered by massive rains in Nepal over the past two days jumped to 44 on Sunday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said.

The eastern Ilam district is the hardest-hit where 37 people were killed by landslides. Some five people remain missing, while 20 others have been injured.

Army troops joined emergency personnel to carry out rescue operations in 28 different locations.

Continuous rainfall since Friday has disrupted daily life in much of Nepal, leading to landslides and floods that have blocked highways and roads.

A three-day ban on vehicular movement into and out of the Kathmandu Valley was announced on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in neighboring India’s West Bengal state, officials said heavy rains wreaked havoc in the region, killing at least seven people.

Abhishek Ray, a senior police official in the state’s Darjeeling district, told reporters that seven bodies have been recovered following the heavy rainfall, which triggered landslides.

Indian parliamentarian from Darjeeling Raju Bista said on the US social media company X that massive damage was caused due to the heavy rainfall.