Nepal flood, landslide death toll rises to 249

The flood and landslide death toll in Nepal has risen to 249, the nation's home ministry said Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry also revealed that 252 people are missing and 153 are wounded, and pegged destruction at over Rs.470 million.

It said flood waters and landslides have affected 41 districts, and added that the major destruction has been recorded in Sindhupalchowk District, where 50 people have died and the number of missing is pegged at 124, nepalnews.com reports.

A total of 16169 families have been displaced, said the National Emergency Work Performance Centre.

Various organizations have donated more than RS 250 million to the Prime Minister's Central Natural Disaster Relief Fund. However, Rs 96.6 million has been released and only Rs 26.6 million has been distributed to the flood and landslide victims, so far.

Various NGOs including Nepal Red Cross, Save the Children, Oxfam, Care Nepal, etc have focused their relief distribution works on mostly affected people, pregnant women and children.