Kathmandu, September 7: The Nepali Army has stated that although search and rescue operations are continuing in the Bhotekoshi flood-affected areas, 45 Nepali Army personnel remain missing.
Speaking at a press conference on the Bhotekoshi flood and search and rescue operations organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Nepali Army officer Rajaram Basnet said that the search for those missing after the flood had been given high priority.
According to him, the Nepali Army is conducting search and rescue operations in three sectors: air, ground and tunnels.
“The Nepali Army, in accordance with the government’s directives, has been working in very close coordination and cooperation with all agencies involved in disaster response. In particular, we have divided the search and rescue operations into three sectors—air, ground and tunnel—and are working accordingly,” Basnet said.
He said that assistance received from neighboring and friendly countries, coordinated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was also being used in the search and rescue operations.
“Through coordination by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are grateful for the assistance received from neighboring and friendly foreign countries for joint operations with the Army. We are committed to working in close coordination and cooperation with them, shoulder to shoulder, to make search and rescue operations in the tunnel areas even more effective,” he said.
Basnet said that mud, soil, debris, and large rocks and boulders posed major challenges during the search and rescue operations.
“The main challenges are locations filled with mud, soil and sludge. There are also large rocks and remnants of rock formations brought along with them. At the Trishuli 3A project as well, we had to dig about 20 meters before finding the entry point leading to the powerhouse,” he said.
According to him, the Trishuli 3A powerhouse was located about 175 meters inside the site. He said that the search and rescue operations had become challenging because of the limited terrain, air traffic, difficult conditions for aerial operations, and constantly changing weather.
The Nepali Army said it has been deploying between 15 and 22 helicopters daily in the affected areas to carry out search and rescue operations.
“We have been deploying between 15 and 22 helicopters to such locations—which consist of a small gorge—and carrying out search and rescue operations there effectively and without any lapses,” Basnet said.
He said that coordination was also being maintained with all concerned agencies in the search for the missing soldiers.
At the press conference, the Armed Police Force, Nepal, also stated that a large number of personnel had been mobilized for search and rescue operations and relief distribution following the flood and disaster.
According to an Armed Police Force representative, a total of 4,203 Armed Police Force personnel have so far been deployed in disaster-affected areas. Of them, 774 have received specialized training in collapsed-structure search and rescue, medical services, drones, rope rescue, swift-water rescue, dead-body management, disaster management, high-altitude rescue and other areas.
“Along with these teams, other Armed Police Force teams have also been deployed jointly with the Nepali Army and Nepal Police, as well as independently, for search and rescue operations and relief distribution,” said Armed Police Force officer Rabin Raj.
The Armed Police Force said it has established temporary bases at 13 locations in various parts of Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Dhading to carry out search and rescue operations and distribute relief materials.
Likewise, seven health camps have been established to provide medical services. Of these, two are in Rasuwa and five in Nuwakot. The Armed Police Force said that 2,970 people have so far benefited from the health camps.
For relief distribution, 113 flights have so far been conducted in Rasuwa. Relief has been distributed to 100 locations through these flights, benefiting approximately 14,000 people, it said.
Similarly, 86 flights have been conducted in Nuwakot, with relief distributed at 50 locations. Approximately 8,400 people have benefited from the assistance, according to the Armed Police Force.
The Armed Police Force said that 13 of its personnel went missing in the incident. The body of one has been recovered, while 12 remain missing.
The Armed Police Force also said it had deployed separate personnel for tunnel rescue operations. In Nuwakot, 63 personnel were deployed on the 17th, 41 on the 18th, 104 on the 20th, and 27 on the 21st. Likewise, in Rasuwa, 60 personnel were deployed on the 17th, 39 on the 18th, and 99 on the 20th, according to the Armed Police Force.
Security agencies, including the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, are continuing search and rescue operations as well as relief distribution in the affected areas.
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