Over 359 deaths, 1400 missing
The death toll from Wednesday’s devastating flood has risen to 359, with bodies recovered from eight districts as of 5pm on Thursday, more than 1,400 people, including more than 700 foreign nationals, are still missing, police said.
Nepali Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle confirmed the revised death toll to the Post.
The latest figures show 17 bodies recovered in Rasuwa, 28 in Nuwakot, 33 in Dhading, 132 in Chitwan, 30 in Gorkha, 22 in Tanahun, 82 in Nawalparasi East and 15 in Nawalparasi West.
Police and other security agencies are continuing search and rescue operations in the flood-affected districts, while evacuating families from areas at risk of further flooding.
They are also working with local authorities and residents to search for missing people and clear roads blocked by debris and flood damage.
The floods swept through Rasuwa and other districts before surging downstream along the Trishuli and Narayani river systems, damaging settlements, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
Bangladeshi tourists currently in Nepal are safe amid floods and landslides that have killed at least 165 people and left more than 1,500 missing, according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu.
Government deploys 12 teams to coordinate Bhotekoshi flood response The government has divided the response to Wednesday’s devastating Bhotekoshi flood into 12 sectors, deploying separate teams to oversee rescue, relief, power restoration, medical response and other urgent needs.
The teams have been formed under the Rasuwa Flood Response Committee to coordinate rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of the disaster, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
The 12 teams have been assigned to oversee different aspects of the response, including emergency communications, electricity restoration, search and rescue, relief and medical response, and management of the deceased.
Response from Bangladesh
Bangladesh has taken an initiative to send relief supplies to Nepal to support people affected by recent devastating landslides and flash floods.
The relief items include tents, mosquito nets, packets of dry food, torchlights, shovels, sleeping bags, water containers and body bags, among other essential supplies, said Mahbubur Rahman, senior information officer at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.
He, however, could not confirm the quantity of the relief items. Bangladesh ambassador to Nepal Shafiqur Rahman said they were monitoring developments and assessing the post-flood situation in coordination with Nepal’s Foreign Ministry.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expressed deep shock and sorrow over the loss of lives caused by devastating floods in Nepal.
“Deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic loss of lives caused by the devastating floods that have struck Nepal,” he said in a Facebook post from his verified page.
