KATHMANDU: The death toll from the floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems has climbed to 734, while 2,498 people are still unaccounted for, according to the latest government data.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), in its search, rescue and relief update issued this morning, said authorities had recovered 734 bodies and human remains from several districts affected by the floods.
Chitwan has reported the highest number of recovered bodies, with 259, followed by Nawalparasi East with 184 and Nawalparasi West with 82. Gorkha has reported 58 deaths, while 52 bodies have been recovered in Nuwakot, 50 in Dhading, 36 in Tanahun and 13 in Rasuwa.
Officials said many victims were found far downstream, as floodwaters swept people and debris along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems.
Rasuwa has the largest number of people reported missing, with 562 unaccounted for. Nuwakot has reported 115 missing people, while 65 people are missing in Makawanpur.
The missing persons include 933 people associated with a hydropower project, 589 foreign nationals and 127 Nepali citizens who were travelling with them. Eighty-five security personnel are also among those reported missing—45 from the Nepali Army, 27 from Nepal Police and 13 from the Armed Police Force.
According to the government, 242 people have sustained injuries in the disaster, including both those currently receiving medical treatment and those who have been discharged.
A total of 19,895 security personnel have been deployed across the affected areas for search, rescue and relief operations. The mobilisation includes 8,399 personnel from the Nepali Army, 7,213 from Nepal Police and 4,203 from the Armed Police Force.
Security personnel have so far rescued 8,186 people, authorities said. Helicopters have played a major role in the rescue operation, including the evacuation of 279 people who were trapped inside a hydropower tunnel over a two-day period. Another 227 foreign nationals have been rescued by air.
The large number of recovered bodies has posed a major challenge in identifying victims. Authorities have transported unidentified bodies to 21 hospitals in different districts for preservation and identification.
The government has also started providing financial assistance and relief materials to the worst-hit areas. Rasuwa and Nuwakot have each received Rs100 million in cash assistance, while Dhading has been allocated Rs50 million. In addition, Rs675 million has been distributed among 15 local government units.
As part of the relief operation, the government has sent 37 trucks loaded with food and non-food items to affected areas and conducted seven helicopter flights to deliver supplies. Two tonnes of food were airlifted to Uttargaya and Dhunche on Saturday.
Authorities are also maintaining fuel stocks in Nuwakot to ensure uninterrupted rescue operations and the use of heavy equipment. The district currently has 36,000 litres of diesel and 24,000 litres of petrol in reserve.
Around 25,000 litres of aviation fuel have been used for rescue operations so far, while another 14,000 litres remain in stock.
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