71 People from Sudurpaschim Reconnect After Bhote Koshi Floods; 143 Still Missing

Dhangadhi: Seventy-one individuals from Sudurpaschim Province who went missing following the Bhote Koshi floods have since made contact. According to records from the Provincial Emergency Operation Center, 143 people from Sudurpaschim who were working in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan, and Tanahun remain out of contact, while one person has died.

Following the floods on Bhadra 10, the Center received reports regarding individuals whose home addresses were in Sudurpaschim but who were working in the affected areas and had lost contact. Janak Dhami, Chief of the Disaster Section at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, stated that information was later received confirming that 71 of these individuals had made contact.

He noted that among those who have made contact, 11 are women and 60 are men, while those still missing include 13 women and 130 men. District-wise data shows that the highest number of missing persons is from Kailali, with 67 still missing and 53 people from the district having made contact.

The figures for those missing and those who have made contact are as follows: Kanchanpur (26 missing, 11 contacted), Dadeldhura (17 missing, 6 contacted), and Doti (2 missing, 1 contacted). Additionally, 16 people from Bajura, 7 from Baitadi, 4 from Darchula, 2 from Bajhang, and 2 from Achham remain missing.

The Emergency Operation Center’s records indicate that one person from Baitadi died. The body was claimed, and funeral rites have been performed.

Families and relatives of those who went missing after the floods had registered reports with the Emergency Center. Relatives are urging the Center to make search and rescue operations more effective in order to ascertain the status of the missing individuals.