Kathmandu, 27 August (H.S.): Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah said that the rapid delivery of essential relief and assistance supplies to areas affected by the Bhotekoshi floods has been intensified.

According to Prime Minister Shah, helicopter flights for rescue operations in the affected areas began as early as 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. More than 15 flights have been conducted since morning, while additional helicopters have also been kept on standby for deployment.

Shah said the Nepal Army rescued 116 people from Timure in Rasuwa during a rescue operation conducted on Thursday morning. Of them, 95 were Nepali citizens and 21 were Indian nationals. During the same operation, seven Nepali citizens who had been trapped inside a tunnel were also safely evacuated.

He said generators, portable mobile towers, medical supplies, tents, and machinery for cutting through iron and stone are being transported to the affected areas. The prime minister added that temporary arrangements for mobile connectivity and charging mobile phones would be established in the disaster-hit areas at the earliest.

Shah further said that a temporary relief camp has been set up in Nuwakot, with arrangements for food and drinking water. He said through a social media post that the drone survey of all affected areas is in its final stage. During helicopter evacuations, critically ill people, the elderly, women and children will be given priority.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar