Nepal’s government says the death toll from the devastating August 26 flash floods in Rasuwa district has risen to 781, while 9,435 people have been rescued….
Nepal’s government says the death toll from the devastating August 26 flash floods in Rasuwa district has risen to 781, while 9,435 people have been rescued.
The government’s latest figures, released on Sunday and reported by Ananta Ghimire Co-founder/Chairperson, BeeBird Media, Kathmandu, Nepal represents a higher reporting cutoff than the 734 deaths reported earlier by international wire services citing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
The disaster was triggered by a glacier collapse and landslide along the Bhote Koshi River, affecting Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi and Chitwan districts.
The floods also destroyed the Gyirong Port trade complex on the China-Nepal border, while some victims’ bodies were reportedly carried up to 240 kilometres into India.
China’s Xinhua News Agency separately reported 16 confirmed deaths and 546 people missing on the Tibetan side, putting the cross-border toll at more than 800.
More than 20,600 personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force remain deployed in search, rescue and relief operations. Authorities said 394 helicopter flights have been conducted, including 72 on Sunday.
At least 279 people were airlifted from flood-hit hydropower project sites, while another 250 were rescued near the Upper Trishuli-1 project.
Search teams are continuing efforts at the Upper Trishuli 3A project, where a joint Nepalese and international team blasted an opening into a blocked tunnel but received no response from people feared trapped inside.
The government said 267 injured people had been evacuated to hospitals, with 156 subsequently discharged.
Meanwhile, more than NPR5.24 billion has been raised through nine commercial bank accounts under the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund, in addition to more than $2.1 million received through two designated banks.
Twenty-six shelter and relief distribution centres are operating across Rasuwa and Nuwakot, with more than 3,450 people receiving shelter or relief assistance on Sunday.
International assistance has also increased, with support pledged by the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, United States, Australia and Switzerland. India has supplied 68.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid and medicine, as well as a 230-foot modular steel bridge, while China has been asked to provide 30 Bailey bridges.
Communications have largely been restored, with 106 of 120 Nepal Telecom towers and 75 of 78 Ncell towers back online. However, fresh landslides have disrupted some alternative road routes, hampering access to affected communities.
The Nepalese government has designated the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund as the official channel for donations, warning the public and international donors to verify payment details through official government sources and avoid unsolicited donation links circulating on social media.
Credit to our Media Partner TVC News .
Credit to our Media Partner TVC News .
