Kathmandu, 1 Sep: Even on the sixth day following the devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa, the Government of Nepal has continued to intensify search, rescue, treatment, relief and rehabilitation operations.
The government said it has so far rescued 11,379 people, while 3,925 people remain unaccounted for. Prime Minister Walen Shah said that relief distribution, restoration of roads, electricity and communication services, and the rescue of people trapped at hydropower projects in the flood-affected districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading have been given priority.
The government has described the disaster as a major catastrophe in the Himalayan region caused by a massive avalanche and said that the international community should be made aware of the growing risks resulting from climate change.
Prime Minister Shah posted the following message on Facebook on Monday evening:
Relief Management
By the sixth day since the Bhotekoshi River flood in Rasuwa, the Government of Nepal remains firmly and actively engaged in search, rescue, treatment, relief and the safe management of affected citizens. Everyone is already aware of these efforts.
The role of all security personnel, civil servants, media personnel, officials of various agencies, volunteer organizations and ordinary citizens who have been deployed in the affected areas at the forefront of these operations, without concern for their own safety, is highly commendable and praiseworthy.
We express our heartfelt gratitude for the patience, support, cooperation and coordination demonstrated by everyone during this period. The support and cooperation provided by provincial and local governments to the federal government in disaster management have been extremely important.
Likewise, the goodwill and assistance demonstrated by our friendly nations, domestic and international organizations, the media and all other stakeholders have been exemplary.
The government remains focused on search and rescue operations in the affected areas. At the same time, the collection and distribution of relief materials for affected citizens remains one of the government’s priorities.
Relief materials collected from organizations and ordinary citizens in Kathmandu and various parts of the country are being transported to affected people. The international community is also supporting these efforts. Assistance has so far been received from friendly countries including India, China, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Japan, Switzerland and Australia.
Our security personnel have transported relief supplies by air and road through four collection centers in the affected areas of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading and distributed them through 27 distribution centers in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, reaching 3,696 affected citizens.
Provincial and local governments are also actively working in coordination with the federal government to manage shelter and relief at these centers. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has been providing regular updates on relief collection and distribution.
To assess how effectively relief collection and distribution are being carried out, members of our secretariat and government employees have also been deployed directly in the affected areas.
Financial Assistance
The Government of Nepal is raising financial assistance for victims through the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund and the Prime Minister’s Fund, and contributions continue to increase.
The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has been operating a “Rescue Request Portal” and publicly disclosing details of funds received from within Nepal and abroad in a transparent manner.
As of midday today, Rs. 5.879 billion (Rs. 5 billion 87 crore 92 lakh 23 thousand 842) had been deposited into accounts at nine commercial banks for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
Similarly, US$3,193,238 has been deposited into accounts at Himalayan Bank and Laxmi Bank.
Several countries and organizations have also pledged financial assistance.
Road Network
The area across the Trishuli River in Nuwakot, which had been cut off by the floods, has now been reconnected to the road network.
Under the Galchhi–Trishuli Highway, the road running along the right bank of the Trishuli River through Kalleritar, Koshikhola, Pipalatar, Darshantar, Chhatrekhola and Gauribesi to Trishuli Bazaar has been brought back into operation.
Direct road access to the district headquarters has been restored for a large number of residents of Nuwakot. This will make rescue operations, distribution of relief materials and the supply of essential goods to affected areas easier.
Most bridges in various locations from Rasuwa and Nuwakot to Dhading have been destroyed, affecting transportation. The government has therefore also prioritized the construction of temporary bridges.
The government has six Bailey bridges measuring 48 meters in length and one measuring 70 meters. Studies have already been completed for installing Bailey bridges at three locations: the Tadi River at Devighat, Trishuli Bazaar and Betrabati Bazaar.
The Government of India has provided a 230-foot single-lane modular steel bridge and has also pledged to send seven additional Bailey bridges.
In addition, the Government of China is expected to provide 30 Bailey bridges soon.
Rescue and Treatment
We had intensified rescue operations in the flood-affected areas. A short while ago, 11,379 people had been rescued, while 3,925 people remain unaccounted for. The number of missing people is fluctuating.
Of the 279 injured citizens rescued from the affected areas and admitted to various hospitals, 168 had been discharged as of a short while ago.
Regular Briefings
We are regularly receiving updates from the security agencies regarding ongoing operations and the current situation in the flood-affected areas.
Today, we also received detailed briefings from the chiefs of the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, Nepal, regarding search, rescue, treatment, relief and rehabilitation.
They provided information on the search, rescue, relief and management efforts carried out so far.
We are also continuously receiving information from Cabinet members, federal lawmakers and other colleagues deployed in the affected areas. This process will continue.
Electricity and Communication Services
Restoration of electricity in the affected areas is continuing.
In Rasuwa district, electricity has been restored to approximately 30 percent of households, including Kalikasthan, parts of Naukunda, parts of Wards 5 and 6 of Gosainkunda Rural Municipality, and the district headquarters Dhunche.
Preparations are also underway to supply electricity through a separate system from the Sanjen Hydropower Project to some areas of Amachhodingmo Rural Municipality.
To provide electricity to the remaining areas of the district through household solar systems, 500 portable solar units have been sent.
Electricity service was affected throughout Nuwakot district due to the floods, but 85 percent of the area has now been reconnected. Work is underway to restore electricity to the remaining 15 percent within the next five days.
Efforts are continuing to restore electricity to parts of Bidur Municipality Wards 1, 3, 5, 6, 10 and 11; parts of Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Tarkeshwar Rural Municipality; Wards 7 and 8 of Belkotgadhi Municipality; and the entire Kispang Rural Municipality.
Similarly, areas along both sides of the Prithvi Highway in Dhading—from Gajuri, Adamghat, Malekhu and Jahare to Mauwakhola—were affected.
Except for some areas of Adamghat, 98 percent of electricity service has been restored throughout Dhading. Work is underway to restore electricity to all areas within the next two days.
Communication services have also been restored in most areas. Of the 120 Nepal Telecom BTS sites, 110 have resumed service, while 75 of Ncell’s 78 towers are operational.
Rescue from Affected Hydropower Projects
Several hydropower projects have been affected by the floods. There are concerns that personnel working at some of the projects may be missing.
The Nepal Army has so far rescued 279 people from various hydropower projects and continues search and rescue operations inside project tunnels.
A Nepal Army team rescued two people from the RasuwaGadhi Hydropower Project. A joint Chinese and Nepal Army team conducted a search deep inside the tunnel. After no people were found inside, the rescue team returned.
At the Langtang Khola and Chilime hydropower projects in Rasuwa, the Nepal Army, an Indian rescue team and several Nepali personnel have been working since this morning to clear the entrances to the tunnels.
The Nepal Army has rescued nine people from the Mailung Khola Hydropower Project.
A total of 254 people have been rescued from the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project. Search and rescue efforts are continuing inside the project’s tunnel. Korean and Chinese teams are also working alongside the Nepal Army.
At the Upper Trishuli-3A Hydropower Project in Nuwakot, a team of 90 personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police is conducting search and rescue operations inside the tunnel. A team from the Nepal Electricity Authority is also assisting.
The Nepal Army has rescued two people from the Upper Trishuli-3B Hydropower Project area. An additional nine Nepal Army personnel have been deployed there, bringing the total number of personnel involved in search and rescue operations to 31.
The Nepal Army began search and rescue operations after a Chinese rescue team conducted a reconnaissance of the site.
At the Trishuli Hydropower Project in Nuwakot, three people have been rescued. Four people have been rescued from the Solar Project and another four from the Devighat Hydropower Project.
Management of Dead Bodies
The bodies of those who lost their lives in the floods and whose identities could not be established are being managed in accordance with the law and following scientific procedures.
The bodies are being managed in accordance with the “Directive on the Management of Unidentified and Unclaimed Dead Bodies (First Amendment), 2083.”
In cases where identification is not possible, the government is managing only those bodies that cannot be identified, while preserving DNA and other evidence that may assist in future identification.
So far, 939 bodies have been recovered. These bodies are being managed with the assistance of the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, Nepal.
Identified bodies are being handed over to their relatives.
A Major Disaster in the Himalayan Region
The flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa was not an ordinary flood. It was one of the largest disasters in the region, triggered by an avalanche of snow and ice in the Himalayan region.
This incident indicates that the risks we face in the Himalayan region are increasing alongside climate change.
Therefore, the region must remain vigilant, while the time has also come for Nepal to strongly raise with the international community the issue of disasters caused by climate change.
Rehabilitation
Along with search and rescue operations, the government has also begun discussions on how to rehabilitate citizens affected by the disaster.
For this purpose, the government has begun collecting details on the number of affected people and the extent of physical damage in coordination with local governments.
Thousands of citizens have lost their homes, family members, loved ones and property. The government understands the suffering they have endured.
The next step is to help heal their wounds and restore them to normal life through rehabilitation.
The government will work to rehabilitate affected citizens while strengthening them physically and psychologically.
Efforts are continuing to secure the financial resources required for rehabilitation.
