Photo Credit: REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
The Nepali government has announced financial assistance for families affected by recent floods, the flood death toll reached 209. Each bereaved family will receive 200,000 Nepali rupees (approximately $1,497) in compensation.
In response to the tragedy, a three-day national mourning period will commence on Tuesday. During this time, the national flag will be flown at half-mast. Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, also the government spokesperson, shared these details at a press conference on Monday.
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Additionally, families with members missing for over ten days will be eligible for the same compensation. The Cabinet has allocated 1 billion rupees ($7.48 million) to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to aid recovery efforts.
As of Monday evening, 24 people remain missing, and 130 others have sustained injuries, according to a statement from Nepal Police. Rescue operations are ongoing, involving the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and Nepali Army. However, efforts are being hindered by damaged infrastructure, with key roads blocked by landslides and flooding. This has complicated the transportation of essential supplies and aid.
In a public advisory, Nepal Police urged residents, especially those in high-risk areas, to remain vigilant. They advised checking with local police stations for updates on road conditions before embarking on any journeys, as many routes are currently dangerous or impassable.