At least 11 people have been killed in floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in Nepal. 12 others were injured. 8 people are still missing. Nepali officials reported this information on Sunday (July 7). Major highways and other road connections have been closed due to floods.

Police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki said it is feared that the missing persons may have been swept away by floodwaters or buried by landslides. The injured are being treated at the hospital.

Karki said, “Rescue workers are cleaning the road. Heavy machinery is being used to clear the debris.

Sunsari district senior official Ved Raj Phuyal said the Koshi River in southeastern Nepal was flowing above the danger line. The river causes devastating floods in the eastern Indian state of Bihar almost every year.

He further said that the flow of river Koshi is increasing and we have asked the residents to be aware of possible floods. At 9 am local time on Sunday, the flow of water in the Koshi river was 369,000 cusecs per second, more than double its normal flow. In normal conditions, one lakh 50 thousand cusecs of water flows every second in the river.

The measure of water flow is cusecs. One cusec of water flowing per second is equal to one cubic foot.

Authorities said that all 56 gates of Koshi barrage have been opened for water drainage. Normally only 10-12 gates of the bridge are opened. The authorities said that the flow of Narayani, Rapti and Mahakali rivers is also increasing in the western region. Several rivers in the mountainous Kathmandu have risen, flooding roads and many houses.

Authorities said that all 56 gates of Koshi barrage have been opened for water drainage. Normally only 10-12 gates of the bridge are opened. The authorities said that the flow of Narayani, Rapti and Mahakali rivers is also increasing in the western region. Several rivers in the mountainous Kathmandu have risen, flooding roads and many houses.

Local media reported people wading through waist-deep water. Residents are using buckets to evacuate their homes to safe shelters.

Landslides, floods and lightning have killed at least 50 people in Nepal since mid-June.

Landslides and flash floods in most parts of mountainous Nepal during the monsoon season kill hundreds of people every year. The monsoon season in the country usually starts from mid-June and continues till mid-September.