Rasuwa floods: Death toll climbs to 1,357, 5,326 still missing

Kathmandu. So far, 1,357 people have lost their lives due to the devastating floods in Rasuwa. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has confirmed this fact by releasing an updated report till 1:00 pm on September 7.

According to the NRA, bodies have been recovered from different places. Of them, 363 were found in Chitwan, 223 in Nawalparasi East, 222 in Nawalparasi West, 197 in Nuwakot, 169 in Rasuwa, 70 in Dhading, 75 in Gorkha and 38 in Tanahun. Of the bodies recovered so far, only 102 have been identified and handed over to their relatives.

A total of 5,326 people are out of contact so far. Of them, 2,860 people are missing from Rasuwa district alone. Among the missing are 1,393 from Rasuwa, 1,286 from other districts, 45 from the Nepal Army, 25 from Nepal Police, 12 from the Armed Police Force, 73 government employees and 26 employees of banks and financial institutions. In addition, about 1,981 Nepali nationals and 587 foreign tourists are still missing from Nuwakot, according to the NRA.

So far, 13,583 people have been rescued safely through the search and rescue operation intensified after the disaster. A total of 6,827 people are undergoing treatment for the floods. Of them, 3,404 have been treated by the Nepal Army, 3,096 by the Armed Police Force and 327 in 10 different hospitals. Of those undergoing treatment at the hospital, 242 have been discharged.

A total of 21,402 security personnel, including 9,287 from the Nepal Army, 7,912 from the Nepal Police and 4,203 from the Armed Police Force, have been deployed for the rescue and relief operations. The Nepal Army has flown 1,157 helicopters from Kathmandu, 129 times from Kathmandu and 203 helicopters from the Armed Police Force.

A total of 3,533 people, including 669 in Rasuwa, 2,651 in Nuwakot and 213 in Dhading, have been kept in 39 holding centres for the displaced people. The government has provided cash relief of Rs 1 crore each to Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, Rs 50 lakh to Dhading and Rs 13.5 crore to the affected 15 municipalities.

Meanwhile, 50,000 liters of diesel, 18,000 liters of petrol, 18,000 liters of aviation fuel and 457 cylinders of gas have been sent to the affected areas. The Ministry of Health has mobilized more than 150 manpower for psycho-social counseling of the affected people. Looking at the situation of power supply, 99 percent in Dhading. 8 percent in Nuwakot, 96 percent. Power has been restored in 7 percent of the households and 78 percent of the households in Rasuwa.