Nuwakot, September 1
Search and rescue operations are continuing across Rasuwa and Nuwakot following the devastating Bhotekoshi flood on August 26, with security forces, Nepal Electricity Authority personnel and technical teams from friendly countries deployed at multiple locations.
The District Administration Office, Nuwakot, released an updated account on Tuesday outlining the progress of search, rescue, road clearance and relief operations.
Search continues at hydropower projects
At the Upper Trishuli-3A Hydropower Project, around 90 personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Electricity Authority are involved in the search. After locating the tunnel head, teams drilled through around 10 metres of mud and created an opening into the inlet. However, a large volume of water began flowing through the opening, prompting teams to drill at another location.
At Trishuli-3B, 47 personnel have been deployed. An excavator was airlifted to the site, with 18 helicopter flights conducted so far.
At Upper Trishuli-1, foreign technical experts are working under the leadership and coordination of the Nepal Army. Search teams have advanced around 300 metres from the tunnel head at Haku and around 250 metres from the tunnel tail at Mailung. Progress has been hampered by three to four metres of thick mud inside the tunnels.
At the Chilime Hydropower Project, Nepal Army personnel, foreign technical experts and the CSSR team are conducting searches up to around 55 metres inside the tunnel.
Search efforts have also reached around 200 metres at Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project and around 150 metres in the Langtang area.
Roads remain a major challenge
Repair work is continuing along the Galchhi–Devighat road, including at the Big Khola bridge and areas covered by mud.
A survey has begun to reconnect the Bailey bridge at Tadi Khola, which was washed away by the flood. Repairs are also continuing along the Dhunge Bazaar–Tirtire Bhir section.
Around 2.8 kilometres of road near Betrawati remains to be repaired. Of that, around 300 metres was completely washed away by the river, prompting authorities to look for an alternative route.
Small vehicles are operating through Bahubesi–Lachyang–Parchyang–Dhunche and Dhikure–Fedibesi–Chogate–Borbanjyang–Betravati–Rasuwa.
Efforts are also underway to open the Chogate–Borbanjyang–Dandakharka–Patikharka–Bhorle route to larger vehicles. Heavy machinery has been deployed along the Bidur-11 Thapatar–Betravati road.
The Colony–Budhisinghghat road is currently operational.
Relief reaches dozens of shelters
Dozens of holding shelters are operating in Bidur and Belkotgadhi municipalities.
Relief has reached 500 people at the Colony Covered Hall/Bhairum Secondary School shelter for those affected in Trishuli Bazaar, although no medical team is currently present there.
Other shelters have also received relief, including 272 people at Mahadev Secondary School in Belkotgadhi-7, 158 at the safe house/cremation building serving Trishuli Dhunge and Simchaur, and 159 at Chandrajyoti Secondary School in Devighat.
Relief has also reached 148 people at the covered hall in Battar, 100 at Trishuli Basic School in Bidur-9, 120 at Shukshana Secondary School in Bidur-9, 103 at the Ayurveda Alternative Medical Centre in Devighat and 93 at Sundari Kyaurini Secondary School in Betravati-Bhaise.
Other shelters receiving relief include Indrayani Basic School in Bidur-1, the Ranabhuwaneshwari Secondary School/Ward Office in Devighat Sitkhali, the library and health post in Tupche, and the health post at Betravati in the Nuwakot Durbar area.
The district administration said relief has reached most shelters, although only a limited number have medical teams.
Water and body management
Drinking water is being supplied in Devighat through a borewell using a generator, while tankers are being used to supply water at various locations in Bidur.
Relief distribution is being coordinated through a one-door mechanism involving the Home Ministry, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the District Administration Office, security agencies and local governments.
By August 31, relief had been collected through 219 organisations and distributed at 131 locations, according to the district administration. The figures for collections and distributions as of September 1 are still being updated.
Relief supplies were airlifted to 9 locations in 12 flights on August 31 and to another 8 locations in 11 flights by 10 a.m. on September 1.
Security agencies are continuing to search for bodies at 30 locations along both banks of the Trishuli, from Kolpu Khola to Mailung Shanti Bazaar.
3,162 rescued, 2,251 still missing
According to the district administration, 3,162 people had been rescued by 10 a.m. on September 1. They include 2,908 Nepali citizens—1,712 men and 1,196 women—and 254 foreign nationals, including 231 men and 23 women.
A total of 151 bodies, including partial remains, have been recovered. Of them, 51 have been identified, while the identities of 100 remain unknown.
The number of injured has reached 61.
Meanwhile, 2,251 people remain missing. The figure includes 1,615 Nepali men, 407 Nepali women and 55 people comprising foreign nationals and unidentified persons.
Compared with the period from August 26 to 31, an additional 23 people were rescued and 21 bodies recovered in the 24 hours up to 10 a.m. on September 1, according to the district administration.
