Kathmandu, 27 August: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and property caused by the devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa, saying that the government has mobilized its entire machinery to make rescue, search and relief operations more effective.
In a message addressed to the nation through social media, Prime Minister Shah paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the floods and expressed condolences to the bereaved families. He wished those injured a speedy recovery and pledged that all necessary assistance would be provided by the state to affected citizens.
According to Prime Minister Shah, emergency meetings of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the National Council and the Council of Ministers were held following the floods, with decisions taken to intensify search, rescue and relief operations.
He said teams from the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police had been deployed to the affected areas for search and rescue. The message said a large number of people had been rescued by air using Nepali Army helicopters and that arrangements had been made to bring the injured to Kathmandu for treatment.
Prime Minister Shah said major hospitals in Kathmandu had been kept on standby to provide convenient and free treatment to the injured. Teams of doctors and health workers, ambulances and essential medical supplies have also been deployed to the affected areas. He added that coordination was also underway with organizations including Nepal Scouts and the Nepal Red Cross Society for rescue and health services.
Prime Minister Shah said protecting the lives of flood-affected citizens, searching for the missing, treating the injured and providing relief to displaced people were the government’s top priorities. He said efforts to locate missing citizens would be intensified and detailed information on the damage caused by the floods would be collected.
He said Bidur in Nuwakot, Uttargaya and Gosainkunda in Rasuwa, various local levels in Dhading and some rural municipalities in Gorkha had been among the areas most severely affected by the floods. He said immediate arrangements would be made to provide food, clean drinking water, medicines and temporary shelter in those areas.
Prime Minister Shah said reconstruction of roads, bridges, electricity facilities and drinking-water infrastructure damaged by the floods would be prioritized, while displaced families would be resettled in safe locations.
Urging affected citizens to remain patient, Prime Minister Shah said the state was standing with them with all its available resources and means. He said the government would take responsibility for rescue, medical treatment, food and accommodation.
At this time of disaster, Prime Minister Shah also appealed to social organizations, industrialists, businesspeople, young volunteers and the general public to support relief and rescue efforts. Earlier, Prime Minister Shah had also held discussions with federal lawmakers from the flood-affected areas to receive updates on the damage, rescue operations and relief efforts.
