Kathmandu, May 14 -- The whereabouts of a woman swept away by a swollen stream in Panauti Municipality of Kavrepalanchok on Monday remains unknown as of Tuesday evening.

A flood triggered by moderate rainfall of 41 mm not only swept away the woman, who was returning home from work in her field, but also roads and drinking water pipelines in various places.

"Death resulting from a flood in the pre-monsoon season is completely new to us," said Dr Megnath Dhimal, a chief research officer at Nepal Health Research Council. "Extreme weather events including floods, landslides, inundation, and dengue outbreaks are now being reported before the onset of the monsoon season, which is a matter of serious concern."

Along with Kavrepalanchok, sever...