Nepal flood death toll could hit 60

Rescuers in Nepal's central Annapurna region say there is almost no hope of finding any more survivors after the Seti burst its banks near the tourist hub Pokhara.

The district police superintendent Sailesh Thapa has told AFP that 17 bodies have been recovered, but 47 people are still missing and feared dead, including three Ukrainian tourists.

"So far, 12 of the 17 bodies have been identified, " he said, adding: "We have a list of another 47 people who have gone missing. Their chances of survival are almost zero."

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Only eight people were rescued, according to BBC, explaining that flood waters had smashed into two buildings and swept away a number of shacks in the village of Kharapani in Kaski district.  The floodwaters also swept into Pokhara, Nepal's second biggest city, and swept away several people along with their houses and livestock, the news service says.

The Sydney Morning Herald says that 20 excavators had been sent to the worst-hit areas to clear the mud and look for bodies. Sniffer dogs and police and army personnel were also assisting with the recovery effort.

Meanwhile, the Indo-Asian News Service reports that Nepal's Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has announced that the families of those killed in the flood will get a relief package worth US$1,500, while those who have lost their homes will be gives around US$300.

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