At Least 88 Dead as Heavy Rains Trigger Flash Floods, Landslides in Nepal

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At least 88 people lost their lives in the recent incidents of flood, landslides and inundation that hit different parts of Nepal.

At least 88 people have died across Nepal over the past three days due to flash floods and landslides triggered by incessant heavy rains, health ministry officials said. The death toll rose to 88 on Thursday after 11 more fatalities were reported from various parts of the country, officials said. As many as 63 people died on Wednesday, while the death toll was 14 on Tuesday, they said.

Thirty people have gone missing in the recent incidents of flood, landslides, and inundation so far, according to the latest data published by the ministry's Disaster Management Division.

Panchthar, a district in eastern Nepal, recorded the highest number of deaths at 27, followed by 13 each in Ilam and Doti districts. Fatalities were also reported from 15 other districts, including Kalikot, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Bajhang, Humla, Solukhumbu, Pyuthan, Dhankuta, Morang, Sunsari and Udayapur.

The natural disaster hit 20 districts of Nepal. In Bajhang district, 21 people have gone missing. However, weather conditions have started improving from Thursday, the officials said.

Disaster authorities in Nepal report that dozens of people have died or are missing after heavy rain caused floods and landslides over the last few days.

The country's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) reported heavy rain from around 16 October. In 24 hours to 18 October, Jogbudha in Dadeldhura district recorded 168.8 mm of rain. In the following 24 hours Sahu Khark in Dadeldhura district saw 361.0 mm and a total of 502.2 mm across a 48 hour period. Over the last 24 hour period to 20 October Tarahara in Sunsari district recorded 398.2 mm of rain. Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said the rain was falling on slopes already saturated by higher than average 2021 monsoon rain.

Australian record set as giant 16cm hailstones hammer North Queensland

Queensland: Tornadoes one day, 16cm hailstones the next.

A new Australian hail record is believed to have been set after giant ice stones pelted Yalboroo, north of Mackay, on Tuesday afternoon, smashing windshields and drawing the attention of international weather watchers.

The Bureau of Meteorology said it had seen credible footage of hail measuring 16cm in diameter, which would top the previous record of 14cm set in Brisbane's southwestern suburbs about the same time last year.

"It's very impressive - obviously not for the residents underneath it - but some very impressive hail," senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said.

"We saw some photos of hail next to a tape measure, the team will be looking at that to see if we can verify it."

Social media was flooded with images of hailstones, some clearly bigger than an adult's hand.

"That's not hail. That's more like a glacier," Karen Gillick wrote on the Higgins Storm Chaser Facebook page.

Giant hail pelted the Yalboroo community north of Mackay.

"Hail this size should be called "Widowmaker" hail," said Patrick Schubert.

"Holt sh*tballs. Looks more like an iceberg. It's true. Everything in Australia is trying to kill us," said Kerrie Murphy

"An insurance company's nightmare," added Bret Dalziel.

Footage posted by Christopher Harvey showed severe damage to his car, with the windscreen smashed in.

Christopher Harvey was caught in the hail north of Mackay.

"That is some big ice. Jesus. I'm going to have some dints after this," Mr Harvey said.

Storms are expected to linger over the southeast and central Queensland coasts on Wednesday, with large to giant hail a possibility,

Elsewhere, showers are tipped for the Illawarra and a storm could hit Sydney.

A large weather front and low pressure system over Western Australia had winds of up to 108km an hour battering Rottnest Island and bringing heavy rain. The BoM said this was likely to move into South Australia, pushing hot and damaging winds across the state's north and western regions.

Severe to extreme heatwave conditions are expected to continue across the top end after several Northern Territory towns set October temperature records.

Tennant Creek soared to 42.4 degrees on Tuesday.

Uttarakhand: At least 46 killed in floods in Himalayan state

At least 46 people have died in flash floods triggered by heavy rains in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.

Images and videos from the state show flooded roads, submerged homes and fallen bridges.

Experts say the Himalayan state, a popular tourist spot, is seeing the effects of both climate change and rampant construction.

Floods have also ravaged the southern state of Kerala, where at least 26 people have died in recent days.

Both states have recorded excessive rainfall this year, according to data from India's weather department. Kerala, for instance, recorded 453.5mm rainfall as opposed to the 192.7mm that is considered normal during this time of the year.

Uttarakhand, which normally sees up to 30.5mm rainfall in October, recorded 122.4mm in the last 24 hours alone. But weather officials have said there is likely to be a "significant reduction in rainfall" from Tuesday.