KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said the government is firmly working to protect citizens and manage the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, despite challenges in search, rescue and relief operations.
In a social media statement on Sunday, the fifth day since the floods, Shah said adverse weather, difficult terrain and continuing risks had made it challenging to assess the full extent of the loss of life, property and infrastructure.
“For the past five days, our country has been facing an unimaginable and heartbreaking natural disaster,” he said. “Although the work is challenging due to adverse weather, difficult geography and continuing risks, we are moving forward with determination to protect the lives of our citizens.”
Shah said the government was deeply aware of the pain of people who had lost their loved ones, homes and property in the disaster. He said protecting citizens and providing them with a sense of security was the state’s highest responsibility and that the entire state machinery had been mobilised on a war footing.
According to the prime minister, 9,435 people have so far been rescued by air and land and taken to safer locations. A total of 394 flights have been conducted for rescue and relief operations, including 72 additional flights on Sunday.
A total of 20,618 security personnel from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been deployed in the affected areas.
Nepali Army helicopters have rescued 279 people from areas around affected hydropower projects. Shah said 250 people had also been rescued from the Upper Trishuli-1 area in Rasuwa over the past two days.
Chinese and Korean specialist teams are working with the Nepali Army in search and rescue operations in the area.
Rescue efforts continue at Upper Trishuli-3A
Rescue efforts are also continuing for people trapped inside a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-3A Hydropower Project in Nuwakot.
Nepali Army engineers are carrying out blasting operations as part of the rescue effort. A joint team of 90 personnel from the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force, including a trained dog squad, and Nepal Police specialists has been deployed at the site.
According to Shah, the rescue team reached the main section of the tunnel on Sunday afternoon and succeeded in creating a 2-by-3-foot opening.
After rescuers descended using ropes and called out to those inside but received no response, the teams began simultaneously using heavy equipment, carrying out blasting and widening the opening.
A joint team of the Nepali Army and Nepal Electricity Authority has also been deployed for rescue operations at the Upper Trishuli-3B Hydropower Project.
Indian, Chinese and Korean specialist teams are also working in coordination with the Nepali Army on search and rescue operations at the Chilime, Langtang Khola and Mailung Khola hydropower projects in Rasuwa.
267 injured rescued
A total of 267 injured people have been rescued from the flood-affected areas and are receiving treatment at various hospitals in the affected districts and Kathmandu.
Of them, 156 have already been discharged.
Teams including medical professionals have been deployed to the affected areas to provide medical treatment and psychosocial counselling.
Shah said the government was receiving financial and humanitarian assistance from both domestic and international sources for rescue and relief operations.
As of Sunday noon, Rs 5.247 billion had been deposited into accounts of nine commercial banks under the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, according to Shah.
Twenty-six shelters and relief distribution centres have been established at various locations in Rasuwa and Nuwakot. A total of 3,454 people received temporary shelter and relief through these centres on Sunday alone.
International assistance is also being received from countries and organisations including the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, the United States, Australia, India, China and Switzerland.
India has so far provided 68.5 tonnes of humanitarian assistance and essential medicines, Shah said.
Communication and roads being restored
Efforts are also underway to restore communication services and roads disrupted by the floods.
According to Shah, 106 Nepal Telecom and 75 Ncell BTS towers have resumed operations in the affected areas. Efforts are underway to bring the remaining towers back into operation soon.
Shah said 781 bodies had so far been recovered following the floods.
The bodies are being managed with the support of the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force. Identified bodies are being handed over to their families, while unidentified bodies are being managed after completing the required legal procedures.
Shah said a collective effort by the government, security agencies, volunteers and citizens was essential to deal with the disaster.
He pledged that relief would continue to be delivered to every affected citizen and that reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts would continue until the necessary results are achieved.
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