KATHMANDU: The death toll from the Bhotekoshi flood disaster continues to mount, with authorities reporting the recovery of 1,357 bodies and more than 5,300 people still missing.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 102 of the recovered bodies have been identified and handed over to their families. Around 5,326 people are still reported missing following the disaster.
Of those missing, 2,860 are from Rasuwa, 1,981 are Nepali nationals from Nuwakot, and around 587 are foreign tourists, according to the Authority.
NDRRMA spokesperson Shanti Mahat said 13,583 people have been rescued so far, while 6,827 people injured in the floods have received treatment. “Of them, 327 were treated at 10 different hospitals, 3,404 by the Nepal Army, and 3,096 by the Armed Police Force,” he said.
According to data provided by the authority, a total of 21,402 security personnel have been mobilized for rescue and relief operations. This includes 7,912 personnel from Nepal Police, 9,287 from the Nepal Army, and 4,203 from the Armed Police Force.
The Authority said 3,533 people have been accommodated at 39 holding centers in the affected areas. Of them, 669 are in Rasuwa, 2,651 in Nuwakot, and 213 in Dhading. For rescue and relief operations, the Nepal Army has conducted 1,157 helicopter flights, while private operators have conducted 129 flights from Kathmandu and the Armed Police Force has conducted 203 flights.
The government has provided Rs 10 million in cash assistance to Rasuwa, Rs 10 million to Nuwakot, and Rs 5 million to Dhading. A total of Rs 135 million in relief has been provided to 15 affected local governments.
According to the Authority, 50,000 liters of diesel, 18,000 liters of petrol, and 18,000 liters of aviation fuel are available in the affected areas. It has also provided 457 cooking gas cylinders as grants.
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) said electricity services have been restored to 78 percent of households in Rasuwa, 96.7 percent in Nuwakot, and 99.8 percent in Dhading. The NEA also said psychosocial counseling services are being provided to flood victims through more than 150 personnel mobilized by the Ministry of Health.
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