KATHMANDU: In a rare incident of the kind at this time of the year, a cyclone accompanied by hailstorm and rain battered Bara district of southern Nepal killing 30 people and injuring 600 on Sunday evening.

All houses, trees and electicity polls falling in the track of the freak storm have been felled, according to Home Ministry sources. Pheta and Bhulahi Bharwaliya areas in Bara district were the worst affected. Neighbouring Parsa was also devastated.

Most of the victims were those trapped under the debris of crashing houses or those coming in contact with fallen live electricity wires, the Himalayan Times reported. About 12 passenger buses were also damaged.

The National Emergency Operation Centre said the injured are undergoing treatment at health centres in the districts.

Security personnel are carrying out rescue operations. Army personnel have also been called out to join in.

The Himalayan Times quoted Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor Bishnu Rimalas saying, "Two battalions has been mobilised immediately there, here in Mid Air Base, Katmandu; night vision helicopters are on stand by with rescue team. Our security agencies are waiting for favoural weather conditions.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli visited the Bara-Parsa to take stock of the relief works after the disaster.

An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers under Province 2 Chief Minister Lal Babu Raut was held early on Monday morning to review the rescue operations. A Chief Minister’s Relief Fund has been launched. The Chief Minister announced that Rs 300,000 will be provided to the victims’ families as relief.

(CM Relief Fund A/c no: 1220-503-000-000 Account: Miscellaneous (Office of the Financial Comptroller, Province 2, Janakpur, Dhanusha) Bank: Rastriya Banijya Bank)