Nepal has rescued 10,451 people since a glacier collapse triggered catastrophic flooding on August 26, while the death toll climbed to 919 and 4,247 people remain missing, authorities said this Monday.
The floods and landslides devastated the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river basins near Nepal’s border with China after a glacial collapse caused by high temperatures. The surge of water and mud tore through villages, swept away infrastructure and dragged human remains and debris hundreds of kilometers downstream.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority released its latest figures this Monday, confirming the recovery of bodies along the river courses, including remains carried far from the disaster zone by strong currents.
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Rescue teams have pulled 10,451 survivors from the affected areas. Helicopters have been decisive, with 411 flights completed, including 17 on Monday alone.
The operation, coordinated by the armed forces, mobilized 20,819 security personnel, made up of 8,722 army members, 7,894 police officers and 4,203 members of the Armed Police Force.
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Thousands Remain Missing
Chitwan district recorded the highest number of recovered bodies, with 272, followed by Nawalparasi East with 207 and Nawalparasi West with 151. Other affected districts include Nuwakot with 95, Gorkha with 62, Dhading with 55, Tanahun with 37 and Rasuwa with 24.
Among the missing, Nuwakot accounts for 1,558 people and Rasuwa for 865, with another 65 in Makawanpur. The unaccounted include 933 workers from hydropower projects, 592 foreigners and 127 Nepalis accompanying tourists. Also missing are 83 members of the security forces, including 45 army personnel, 25 police officers and 13 members of the Armed Police Force, along with customs, immigration and quarantine officials.
Humanitarian supplies have reached survivors through 37 trucks, 35 Bolero vehicles and eight helicopter flights. On Monday, authorities sent two tons of food to Uttarangaya and Dhunche, along with medicines, sanitary material and five portable generators.
The government has allocated 1 crore rupees to Rasuwa and Nuwakot, 50 million rupees to Dhading and 6.75 crore rupees to 15 local governments as cash assistance. Fuel reserves in the affected area stand at 25,000 liters of diesel, 21,000 liters of gasoline and 10,000 liters of aviation fuel.
Six specialized surgical medical teams have been deployed to the hardest-hit areas to treat the 267 injured people reported so far, 156 of whom have already been discharged. Unidentified bodies remain stored in 21 hospitals across several districts awaiting DNA identification, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority is publishing official updates on its Facebook page and on the Nepal Police disaster portal.
The recovery effort remains underway while authorities work to identify the dead and account for the thousands still missing. The disaster has underscored the growing risk of glacier collapse in the Himalayas, where rising temperatures are accelerating ice melt across high-altitude valleys.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.