KATHMANDU: Prime Minister (PM) Balendra Shah has said the government will reach out to every citizen affected by the floods and landslides, stressing that the state stands with families facing difficult times.
He made the statement while providing an update on the latest situation in the Bhote Koshi flood-affected areas through a Facebook post this evening.
“In this difficult time, the state is with every family affected by the disaster,” Prime Minister Shah said. “The state will reach out to every citizen waiting for rescue.”
According to him, 15,431 security personnel have been mobilized for search, rescue and relief operations in flood- and landslide-affected areas, including Rasuwa and Nuwakot. Of them, 4,473 are from Nepal Police, 6,755 from the Nepal Army and 4,203 from the Armed Police Force Nepal.
“So far, 4,451 people have been rescued. Ninety-nine air sorties have been conducted to Dhunche, Trishuli, Timure and Syabrubesi, among other areas, with the Nepal Army and 16 private-sector helicopters involved in rescue operations,” the Prime Minister said.
“So far, 32 trucks carrying food and non-food relief materials have been sent to the affected areas, while relief supplies have also been transported by helicopter. The search and rescue of civilians and workers trapped in tunnels has been given high priority.”
The Prime Minister said the search for missing people and bodies has been expanded from Rasuwa to Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan and Nawalparasi along the Trishuli-Narayani River corridor. He added that 129 foreign tourists and other foreign citizens have so far been rescued and identified.
Similarly, Shah said efforts to restore roads, electricity, telecommunications and drinking water services have been intensified in the affected areas. Rasuwa has been reconnected to the national road network through an alternative route, while 145 of the 198 telecommunications sites affected by the disaster have resumed operations. Electricity supply has been restored to around 90 percent of Nuwakot.
“Rs 67.5 million has been provided to 15 local levels affected by floods and other disasters for relief, rescue and disaster management,” he said. “More than Rs 1.9 billion has been collected in the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund over the past 36 hours.”
Prime Minister Shah said the government continues to monitor the risk of renewed flooding in the Bhote Koshi and downstream areas and urged residents of vulnerable locations to move to safer places. He said more than 200,000 SMS alerts have been sent to the public so far.
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