Nepalese premier urges public to help flood victims as death toll climbs to 224

ANKARA

Nepal's prime minister on Wednesday urged the public to assist victims of deadly floods that have claimed 224 lives, with two dozen people still missing.

According to The Himalayan Times, KP Sharma Oli told reporters that the devastation and scale of the disaster exceeded the government’s initial preparations.

"This is not just the government's pain, but the nation's pain. We are all deeply affected by this disaster," said Oli, the daily newspaper reported.

His statement followed public backlash over the government's slow response to the crisis and inadequate relief and humanitarian assistance.

Oli also directed authorities to fully utilize state resources to address the ongoing crisis.

Officials reported that the death toll has risen to 224, including 35 children, while 158 people have been injured and 24 remain missing.

The heavy flooding, which began on Thursday and continued for 48 hours, caused extensive damage to infrastructure and communication systems across the country. According to The Kathmandu Post daily, the disaster caused an estimated 17 billion Nepalese rupees (about $126,600) in damages.

Sixteen hydroelectric power plants were also damaged, reducing Nepal’s electricity production, while 18 other projects under construction were affected, said government chief secretary Eak Narayan Aryal on Tuesday.

The government has deployed the army in some areas to assist the local administration in restoring traffic and reopening roads. Seventeen road sections along various highways remain blocked due to severe damage caused by landslides and flooding.

The disaster began after torrential rains on Thursday triggered floods and landslides in several regions.