Rasuwa Flood: Rescuers Push Forward Despite Limited Resources
Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
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- A sudden flood from China's Tibetan region caused widespread devastation in Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.
- As of the report, 157 bodies have been recovered, with a large number of people, including security personnel, still missing.
- The Nepali government has declared affected areas as crisis zones and is mobilizing resources for search and rescue operations.
A sudden and severe flood, originating in the Tibetan region of China, swept through Nepal's northern districts of Rasuwa and Nuwakot on Wednesday morning, causing extensive loss of life and property. The deluge, which descended via the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa, devastated areas including Timure, Syaphrubesi, Melung, Betrawati, Trishuli Bazaar, and Dhungebazaar.
even the exact details of the missing are yet to be confirmed.
The floodwaters washed away approximately 19 bridges, severing vital transportation links, including the bridge leading to Dhading's district headquarters. As of the latest reports, Nepal Police have recovered 157 bodies, though positive identification is still pending. A significant number of people remain unaccounted for, with the exact details still being confirmed.
The scale of the disaster is underscored by the number of missing security personnel. Nepal Police reported 32 personnel missing, while the Armed Police Force confirmed 9 missing. The Nepal Army stated that 44 soldiers deployed to secure Langtang National Park and hydropower facilities are also out of contact, bringing the total number of missing security personnel to 85. Combined with missing police officers, 41 personnel from both forces remain unaccounted for.
9 armed police personnel remain out of contact so far.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Santosh Rijal, stationed at Betrawati Police Post, described the chaotic moments as he used a megaphone to warn residents before being forced to flee for his own safety. So far, 97 individuals have been rescued by air. The government and security agencies have actively engaged in search and rescue efforts. Prime Minister Balen Shah directed immediate mobilization of agencies upon learning of the incident, prioritizing the Rasuwa flood response.
44 soldiers have not been in contact so far; these were personnel deployed to secure Langtang National Park and hydropower facilities.
A cabinet meeting declared the affected municipalities as crisis zones and focused on search and rescue operations. The Home Minister was authorized to mobilize all available resources, including helicopters, to aid in the rescue of the injured and those in distress. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defense are tasked with moving affected individuals to safe locations, demonstrating the government's serious commitment to addressing the crisis.
it is still not possible to assess the full extent of the damage.
About this summary
Originally published by OnlineKhabar English in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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