Kathmandu, Aug.14: Nine left parties  Saturday demanded waiver of land revenue and loans of farmers affected this summer by floods and landslides that have devastated 72 of the kingdom’s 75 administrative districts.

The joint meeting demanded ” timely relief without any discrimination to the people affected by natural calamities” this year. The meeting was chaired by president of the Samyukta Janamorcha Nepal Amik Serchan. At least 113 persons have been killed or are missing in floods and landslides triggered by incessant rains this summer  while 8,208 families have been affected and more than 2,508 homes destroyed. Four more casualties caused by rains have been reported from Kailali and Nuwakot.

Workers attempted to re-open the Prithvi Highway for the fourth day Monday as the capital was still  cut-off from the central Terai districts.