Arya News - Government figures show 2,498 people remain unaccounted for, including 589 foreign nationals, as search and identification efforts continue in the flood-hit districts.
KATHMANDU – The death toll from the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers has risen to 734, while 2,498 people remain missing, according to the latest government figures.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said in its search, rescue and relief update issued at 9am on Sunday that 734 bodies, including human remains, had been recovered from several flood-hit districts.
Chitwan has recorded the highest number of recovered bodies at 259, followed by Nawalparasi East with 184 and Nawalparasi West with 82. Gorkha has reported 58 bodies, Nuwakot 52, Dhading 50, Tanahun 36 and Rasuwa 13. Many of the bodies were recovered hundreds of kilometres downstream after floodwaters carried victims and debris along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers.
The number of missing is particularly high in Rasuwa, where district authorities have reported 562 people unaccounted for. Nuwakot has reported 115 missing people and Makawanpur 65.
The missing list also includes 933 people linked to a hydropower project, 589 foreign nationals and 127 Nepalis travelling with them. Eighty-five security personnel are also reported missing, including 45 from the Nepali Army, 27 from Nepal Police and 13 from the Armed Police Force.
The government said 242 people had been injured, including those receiving treatment and those who have already been discharged.
Rescue efforts have continued across the affected districts, with 19,895 security personnel mobilised for search, rescue and relief operations. They include 8,399 Nepali Army personnel, 7,213 police personnel and 4,203 personnel from the Armed Police Force.
Authorities said security forces had rescued 8,186 people so far. Helicopters have been central to the operation, including the evacuation of 279 people trapped inside a hydropower tunnel over two days. Another 227 foreign nationals have been rescued by helicopter.
The scale of the death toll has also created a significant challenge for authorities trying to identify the victims. Unidentified bodies have been sent to 21 hospitals in different districts for preservation and identification.
The government has also begun distributing relief funds and supplies in the worst-affected areas. Rasuwa and Nuwakot have each received Rs100 million in cash assistance, while Dhading has received Rs50 million. A further Rs675 million has been distributed among 15 local units.
The government has dispatched 37 trucks carrying food and non-food supplies and used seven helicopter flights for relief deliveries. Two tonnes of food were airlifted to Uttargaya and Dhunche on Saturday.
The government is also maintaining fuel reserves in Nuwakot to support rescue and heavy equipment operations, with 36,000 litres of diesel and 24,000 litres of petrol in storage. About 25,000 litres of aviation fuel have been consumed during rescue operations, with 14,000 litres remaining in stock.
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