NDRRMA chief Dharmaraj Upreti on early warning system, survivor rescue and relief management

Blocked roads have left helicopters as Nepal’s main route for rescuing survivors and delivering relief after the August 26 Bhotekoshi River flood, according to NDRRMA chief executive Dharmaraj Upreti. He said helicopters can carry only limited supplies and need suitable landing zones, but the authority is using private operators alongside the Nepali Army.

The flood swept through settlements along the river basin in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Gorkha and Chitwan. Five days later, at least 780 people had been confirmed dead, while the full number of deaths, missing people, injuries and damage remained unconfirmed.

Upreti said the authority had begun prioritising medical supplies. Teams sent food and medicines to Rasuwa, including the Uttar Gaya area, after complaints about difficult rescues and food shortages. The response also includes oxygen cylinders and ready-to-eat dry food such as biscuits.

Infrastructure repairs have started in parallel. The Nepal Electricity Authority restored power in Nuwakot, while Nepal Telecom and Ncell worked to restore telephone towers. Upreti said rescuers brought 350 people out of one tunnel and rescued 500 people on Friday morning, contributing to a reported single-day total of 3,500 rescues.

The NDRRMA formed 12 teams to prevent duplication and deployed the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force. Upreti’s interview also covers precautions for the coming days, including early-warning coordination across borders, and the management of displaced people as search, rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations continue.