Death toll in Nepal landslides, floods rises to 49

Nepal has begun rescue and relief operations after landslides and floods triggered by monsoon rain across the country claimed at least 49 lives, the government said.The torrential rains hit the country's southern plains and eastern hills, triggering landslides and inundating hundreds of towns and villages.The country's home ministry said on Sunday that the death toll had risen to 49, with 17 people injured and thousands left homeless.Some 36 people were missing in 23 districts across the country's densely populated southern plains, which border India.In a statement, Nepal's government said it had asked Indian authorities on Saturday to open the barrages at two rivers that flow into India.Some 8,000 police officers and army soldiers were deployed in the areas affected by the floods."We have helicopters, motorboats, rafts on standby in several places. In Surkhet district, we have evacuated about 200 people to shelters," the statement said.Several highway bridges have collapsed and roads were blocked by landslides and floods, leaving thousands of travellers stranded, local media reported on Sunday.The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said further heavy rains were expected on Sunday in the country's central and mid-western regions.Nepal is prone to natural disasters. In 2015, 9,000 people were killed when a powerful earthquake hit the Himalayan country. Every year, floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains cause numerous deaths in Nepal, where the monsoon season lasts from June to September.