KATHMANDU, Aug 16: At least 15 soldiers and five civilians were killed and another 20 soldiers were missing after massive landslides hit two villages in Rasuwa district, about 90km north-west of the capital Kathmandu on Friday night, newspaper reports said on Saturday.

Government officials confirmed that bodies of 15 soldiers and one civilian had been recovered by Saturday afternoon.

At least six injured soldiers were airlifted to Kathmandu and the condition of three of them is reported serious.—dpa