At least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured after stormy weather hit southern Nepal, destroying houses, uprooting trees and toppling electricity poles, officials said today.

The thunderstorm swept through the district of Bara and adjoining areas
late Sunday, Bara’s police chief Sanu Ram Bhattarai told AFP.

“At least 25 people have been killed and many injured. Search and rescue
workers have been deployed,” Bhattarai said, warning that the toll may rise,
with information about the disaster still coming in.

Prime minister KP Sharma Oli expressed his condolences in a tweet and said
that as well as the 25 killed, around 400 were injured.

“Helicopters are on standby for necessary rescue and relief tomorrow
morning,” Oli said.

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