29 dead, hundreds injured in Nepal storm

At least 29 people were killed and over 600 others injured as a massive storm lashed Nepal, authorities said on Monday.

The thunderstorm swept through the district of Bara and adjoining areas late Sunday, according to the home ministry.

The storm accompanied by hail and heavy rain struck the two districts on Sunday night.

The victims were either killed after getting buried under the rubble of houses and metal roofs or due to coming in contact with live wires.

According to a senior official, the majority of the injured were from Pheta and Bhulahi Bharwaliya areas in Bara.

The storm destroyed hundreds of houses, uprooted trees, electric poles and damaged over 12 passenger buses, the police said.

Security agencies, including two battalions of the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force of Nepal were mobilized to carry out rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.

Local and district hospitals were inundated with injured victims coming in from the affected areas.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed his condolences in a tweet and said that the government would do its best for treatment of the injured.

An emergency meeting held in Bara on Monday morning decided to provide 300,000 Nepalese rupees with each the victims' families along with a relief package including tents, food items, and medical supplies.

The Parsa district authorities urged the Nepal government to declare a state of emergency.

Storms causing such high casualties in spring are rare in Nepal.