Bhotekoshi Flood: 4,216 People Still Unaccounted For

Kathmandu: A total of 4,216 people remain unaccounted for following the devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa on Bhadra 20. Security agencies have intensified search and rescue operations after the flood caused significant loss of life and property.

According to details released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority today, 45 Nepal Army personnel, 25 Nepal Police personnel and 13 Armed Police Force Nepal personnel are among those unaccounted for.

Similarly, 14 employees of the Customs Office, three employees of the Immigration Office and around 865 people from Rasuwa remain unaccounted for.

The Authority said 1,558 people from Nuwakot, 583 foreign nationals and 164 Nepalis who had gone with tourists are also unaccounted for. The details further show that around 900 people working in hydropower projects, three from Langtang National Park, three from the Quarantine Office, seven people’s representatives, 32 local-level and subordinate employees and one teacher from a private school are unaccounted for.

According to Authority spokesperson Shanti Mahat, 21,402 security personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force Nepal have been mobilized in the flood-affected areas. Of them, 7,912 Nepal Police personnel, 9,287 Nepal Army personnel and 4,203 Armed Police Force Nepal personnel have been deployed for search and rescue operations.

Treatment provided to more than 5,000 people
The Authority said 5,135 people affected by the flood have received treatment so far. Among them, 301 were treated at various hospitals, while 3,206 received health care services from the Nepal Army and 1,628 from the Armed Police Force Nepal.

According to the Authority, 3,948 people are currently being accommodated in holding centers. The number of deaths caused by the flood has reached 1,252 so far.

According to spokesperson Mahat, 127 bodies have been recovered in Rasuwa, 177 in Nuwakot, 60 in Dhading, 69 in Gorkha, 218 in Nawalparasi East, 208 in Nawalparasi West, 38 in Tanahun and 355 in Chitwan.

Air rescue given high priority
The Nepal Army is conducting air rescue operations on a high-priority basis to deliver rescue and relief materials to remote and disconnected areas. So far, the Army has rescued 4,091 Nepalis and 273 foreign nationals by air.

The Nepal Army has conducted 715 flights so far as part of search and rescue operations. The Authority said the Army conducted 25 flights on Wednesday alone. The private sector has also supported rescue and relief efforts through 129 flights so far.

The Authority said air rescue operations and the delivery of relief materials to remote and disconnected areas are continuing.

Following the Bhotekoshi floods, which caused massive loss of life and property, state security agencies, local levels and various government and non-government agencies have remained continuously engaged in rescue, treatment and relief efforts. The Authority said search and rescue operations have been intensified for more than 4,000 people who remain unaccounted for.