KATHMANDU, June 16 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people have died while around a dozen others including Chinese and Indian nationals are reportedly missing in floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains in the Sindhupalchowk district of Nepal, officials said Wednesday.

Incessant rains from Monday evening led to floods and landslides that inflicted loss of lives and properties. "Seven people have died while around a dozen others are reported missing," Arun Pokharel, chief district officer in Sindhupalchowk, told Xinhua. "We are still collecting the reports about loss of lives and properties."

The Melamchi drinking water project that supplies water to the Kathmandu Valley was damaged in heavy rains as well, and Camp 5 on the construction site was destroyed.

"Three Chinese and four Indians from the construction site are missing," Rajendra Prasad Pant, spokesman with the Melamchi Water Supply Development Board, told Xinhua. "The rescue operation to trace them is going on."

Pant said 18 workers have been rescued and they are receiving treatment in Kathmandu.

The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu confirmed the missing of three Chinese nationals, saying the body of one of them has been found, making the death toll stand at eight.

On Wednesday morning, the Nepali government mobilized 250 soldiers and police officers from Kathmandu to support the security forces in Sindhupalchowk.

Every year Nepal suffers huge loss of lives and properties in landslides and floods triggered by heavy monsoon rainfalls. Enditem

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