Rasuwa Floods Update: 11,993 People Rescued

As of Wednesday evening, a total of 11,993 individuals have been rescued following the catastrophic flooding of the Bhotekoshi River. However, there are still 4,216 people who remain unaccounted for.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has prioritized the search for these missing individuals alongside ongoing relief and rescue efforts.

Shanti Mahat, the authority’s spokesperson, reported that 21,314 security personnel, including members of the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force Nepal, have been deployed to the affected regions in response to the disaster.

Specifically, the rescue teams consist of 7,912 Nepal Police personnel, 9,199 from the Nepali Army, and 4,203 from the Armed Police Force Nepal. The security forces are actively searching riverbanks, flood-impacted communities, roads, and areas affected by landslides.

The authority noted that the rescue and search operations are particularly challenging due to damage to roads and infrastructure caused by the floods. Tragically, the death toll has risen to 1,204. Efforts to locate and rescue those in need have been ramped up in the impacted areas.

The floods have severely affected districts including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Nawalparasi East, Nawalparasi West, Tanahun, Chitwan, and others. So far, the grim tally of bodies recovered includes 115 in Rasuwa, 155 in Nuwakot, 60 in Dhading, 69 in Gorkha, 217 in Nawalparasi East, 202 in Nawalparasi West, 38 in Tanahun, and 348 in Chitwan.

During this crisis, the Nepal Army is prioritizing air rescues, having airlifted 4,991 Nepalis and 273 foreign nationals to safety. To date, the Nepal Army has conducted 690 air sorties as part of their search and rescue operations, with 80 of those occurring just on Wednesday.

The private sector has also stepped up, contributing to the rescue and relief efforts with 29 air flights so far. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing. Right now, 14 individuals from the customs office, three from the immigration office, and around 865 people from Rasuwa are unaccounted for.

Additionally, the authorities reported that 1,558 people from Nuwakot, along with 583 foreign nationals and 164 Nepalis who were traveling with tourists, are also missing. On top of that, about 900 workers from the hydropower project, three from Langtang National Park, three from the quarantine office, seven local representatives, 32 staff from local government, and one from a private school are out of touch.

The government is actively providing relief and rescue efforts for those affected by the floods, sending food, essential items, medicines, and health supplies to the impacted regions.

The search and rescue operations have ramped up significantly, especially since the floods have led to devastating human losses, leaving thousands still uncontacted.

The focus is on improving access to relief, healthcare, and vital supplies in the affected areas. Security agencies, local authorities, and various organizations are working tirelessly to assist in rescue and relief efforts following the catastrophic floods that have caused extensive human and material damage.

The authorities have stated that the search operations are being intensified due to the high number of people who are still unreachable. (RSS)