Examiner Bureau | Kathmandu:
Nepal has intensified search, rescue and relief operations following devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi River, with 626 bodies recovered and around 2,400 people still missing, officials said.
More than 4,450 people have been rescued, including over 187 foreign nationals, as emergency operations continue across the worst-affected districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan.
Nepal Home Secretary Raj Kumar Shrestha said authorities were continuing efforts to locate those still missing and provide emergency medical assistance and relief to affected communities.
Given the scale of the disaster, Nepal has sought specialised international assistance to strengthen its rescue and recovery operations.
An 11-member technical reconnaissance team from India has been mobilised to assist with tunnel rescue operations, while an additional specialised tunnel rescue team is expected to arrive from China.
India has also dispatched more than 57 tonnes of relief material to support Nepal’s emergency response. Additional essential supplies are being provided by China, Japan, Australia and other international partners.
The assistance is expected to bolster ongoing rescue, relief and medical operations as authorities confront the extensive destruction caused by the floods.
Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a dedicated Emergency Control Room to assist foreign nationals affected by the disaster.
The facility will coordinate with families, support identification procedures and facilitate repatriation-related arrangements.
With a significant number of foreign nationals among those affected or missing, coordination between families, diplomatic missions and Nepalese authorities has emerged as a key component of the emergency response.
The Nepal government has initiated a detailed assessment of the damage caused by the floods, with particular focus on critical infrastructure.
Officials are assessing damage to roads, bridges and hydropower facilities, many of which have been severely affected.
Given the magnitude of the destruction, authorities expect international assistance to remain important not only during the immediate rescue and relief phase but also during longer-term reconstruction.
The Nepal government has rejected reports suggesting that it had turned down international assistance, reiterating that foreign support is required for rescue, relief and reconstruction efforts.
Authorities have also appealed to the public and international media to rely on officially verified information and refrain from circulating or publishing unconfirmed figures concerning casualties and missing persons.
Contributions towards the recovery effort can be made directly to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund through the officially designated QR code or online channel.
Amid the devastation in the flood-hit areas, officials have clarified that Nepal remains open to foreign travellers and tourists, with the exception of areas directly affected by the disaster and ongoing emergency operations.
Rescue teams continue to focus on locating missing persons, providing emergency medical assistance and delivering relief supplies, while authorities assess the broader impact on infrastructure and prepare for the long-term recovery and reconstruction phase.
