Landslide in Nepal Kills 10, Leaves 3 Missing

Ten people died and three remain missing after a landslide in Rolpa, Nepal, buried a small settlement. Heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening caused the disaster in Kotalbara, a village in Thabang Rural Municipality. The torrent of mud and debris struck around 7:30 p.m., sweeping away 11 houses and their 13 residents.

Officials confirmed the casualties, identifying some of the victims who ranged in age from five to 85. Among the dead were Kamal Bahadur Pun Magar, his daughter Jun Kumari Pun, and two grandchildren. Dal Bahadur Pun Magar also perished with his wife and granddaughter.

Rescue efforts were hampered by the darkness, power outages, and the remote location of the settlement. Police, the Nepali Army, and residents struggled to work through the night. By Thursday evening, ten bodies had been recovered, with five found at the landslide site and five in neighboring Pyuthan. Three people are still unaccounted for.

"The fact that whole houses were buried made rescue extremely challenging," said Rolpa Chief District Officer Ganga Bahadur Chhetri. Two residents who managed to escape, Himal Pun Magar and Sanjay Gharti Magar, suffered serious injuries and were taken for treatment.

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The fact that whole houses were buried made rescue extremely challenging.