Kathmandu, 28 August (H.S.):

Nepal is grappling with the devastating impact of floods in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa district, with the massive deluge causing widespread destruction and claiming a heavy toll of lives and property. So far, 389 bodies have been recovered from the flood-affected areas, while 977 people remain missing. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) provided the figures in its sixth status report posted on X late Thursday. The figures are based on information received from District Administration Offices and National Emergency Operation Centres.

According to the NDRRMA report, among the 977 people reported missing are 28 Nepal Police personnel, 45 Nepal Army personnel, 13 personnel of the Armed Police Force Nepal, 15 employees of the Customs Office and four employees of the Immigration Office. The missing persons include 517 foreign nationals and 127 Nepali citizens residing abroad. These people had travelled to Nepal as tourists. The report also stated that 73 people were injured.

According to a separate report by the Nepal Police, the highest number of bodies — 108 — have been recovered in Chitwan, followed by 62 in East Nawalparasi, 15 in West Nawalparasi, 27 in Dhading, 20 in Gorkha, 12 in Nuwakot, nine in Tanahun and 17 in Rasuwa.

As many as 52 people are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals. Of them, 26 are being treated at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, 20 at the Trauma Centre, two at Bir Hospital, two at Norvic Hospital, one at Manmohan Hospital and one at Birendra Military Hospital.

According to the NDRRMA, a total of 13,295 security personnel have been deployed for search, rescue and relief operations. The deployment includes 7,250 Nepal Police personnel, 4,200 Nepal Army personnel and 1,845 personnel from the Armed Police Force Nepal.

Fifteen helicopters have been deployed as part of the rescue operation. Of these, six belong to the Nepal Army, while nine are operated by the private sector.

The NDRRMA said that helicopters have so far rescued 1,976 people. It added that 12 emergency coordination teams have been deployed to organise search-and-rescue operations, emergency healthcare services, communications, restoration of electricity, road-network operations, relief distribution, international assistance and information management.

Efforts are also underway to restore damaged roads and reopen transport links in the affected areas. The road at Devighat has been repaired, while machinery has been deployed to clear and restore the Galchi-Bidur-Trishuli and Baireni-Muglin routes.

Nepal is continuing to grapple with the aftermath of the devastating floods that struck Rasuwa district on Wednesday morning. After visiting flood-hit Nuwakot, Prime Minister Balendra Shah said the situation remained challenging and that the entire government machinery was working at full capacity.

In a Facebook post, Shah said, The situation is still challenging. All government mechanisms are working at full capacity. At present, our first priority is to save the lives of every citizen, search for and rescue missing people, provide treatment to the injured and immediately provide relief to affected families.

The Prime Minister also said that 13,295 personnel from the Nepal Police, Nepal Army and Armed Police Force had been deployed for search-and-rescue operations.

Meanwhile, a fresh threat of flooding has emerged after the flow of the Lende River was blocked approximately 18 kilometres upstream of the Rasuwagadhi border area, resulting in the formation of a lake. The lake is spread over approximately 0.11 square kilometres, raising concerns about the possibility of another flood.

The Nepalese government has urged all concerned authorities and residents in downstream areas to exercise necessary caution and remain on high alert.

Amid the ongoing crisis, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released the names of 63 Indian nationals working at the Trishuli-I project in Nepal who were rescued amid the floods. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the names on X on Thursday and said, Update on Indian nationals rescued in Nepal.

Jaiswal said, Please see the names of the 63 Indian nationals working at the Trishuli-I project in Nepal who have been rescued.

The names were released after the Ministry of External Affairs, in its 8 pm update, said that 63 employees of the Trishuli-I project and 21 people from Tamil Nadu had been rescued. The 21 Tamil Nadu residents had travelled to Nepal to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

The Ministry of External Affairs said efforts were continuing to trace Indian nationals with whom contact could not yet be established and to ensure their safety.

Rescue and relief operations remain underway as Nepal enters the third day of the disaster, with authorities working to locate missing people, recover bodies, treat the injured and restore essential infrastructure in the flood-hit regions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar