NUWAKOT: Search and rescue operations have been intensified in Nuwakot, one of the districts directly affected by August 26 Bhotekoshi flood.
On Saturday, a 64-year-old woman was rescued alive from Betrawati in Bidur Municipality-10, 11 days after the flood. Following the rescue, a meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee was held in Bidur, where Dr. Bikram Timilsina, a member of the House of Representatives elected from Nuwakot-1 and Minister for Information and Communications, directed authorities to continue search and rescue operations meticulously for several more days.
The successful rescue of the woman from Betrawati 11 days after the disaster has been described as an encouraging development. Nuwakot Chief District Officer Shambhu Prasad Regmi said search and rescue operations had been intensified for several more days in the hope of locating additional survivors and missing persons.
According to Regmi, search operations have been conducted at around 30 locations across the district with the mobilization of trained dogs from the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police. Three more bodies were recovered on Sunday—two from Trishuli Bazaar in Bidur Municipality-1 and one from Sirkhali in Ward No. 3.
“We have intensified search and rescue operations by reaching every room and corner of houses damaged or buried by the flood. We are using the resources available with the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police, with support from the Nepal Army whenever necessary,” Regmi said. “We request local residents to provide the necessary support and facilitate the work of security personnel deployed for the rescue operations.”
According to data compiled by the District Disaster Management Committee, as many as 2,673 people have been reported missing in Nuwakot alone as a result of the Bhotekoshi flood. Officials said the figure could rise as local authorities continue collecting and verifying information from affected communities.
The flood has directly affected Bidur and Belkotgadhi municipalities and Kispang and Tarakeswar rural municipalities. Major settlements, including Betrawati, Bhaisen, Tupche, Trishuli, Dhunge and Devighat, have suffered extensive damage and have been inundated with mud and debris. The disaster has resulted in significant loss of life and property.
Joint security forces have continued to intensify search and rescue operations, hoping to locate and save people who remain missing. Many houses were buried under debris or swept away by the floodwaters, making the search particularly challenging.
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