Nepal flood death toll reaches 1,204, nearly 12,000 rescued
More than 300 injured as rescue teams continue searching for thousands reported missing after devastating flash floods
PC: Dewan Rai
The death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 1,204, while nearly 12,000 people have been rescued, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said Wednesday.
A total of 301 people have been injured in the disaster, according to the latest government update covering the situation until 6:00 pm Wednesday.
Authorities said 11,993 people had been rescued so far, including 4,041 Nepalis and 273 foreign nationals evacuated by the Nepali Army.
The floods, which struck the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems on August 26, caused widespread destruction across several districts, sweeping away homes, bridges, roads and hydropower infrastructure.
The largest numbers of recovered bodies have been recorded in Chitwan, Nawalparasi East, Nawalparasi West and Nuwakot, with victims also recovered in Rasuwa, Dhading, Gorkha and Tanahun.
Thousands of people remain unaccounted for. The latest government update puts the number of people still out of contact at 4,216, including security personnel, foreign nationals, tourists and workers from hydropower projects.
Rescue teams have been searching damaged hydropower facilities and other areas where people are believed to remain trapped, while helicopters have been used to evacuate survivors and deliver relief supplies.
More than 21,000 security personnel from the Nepal Police, Nepali Army and Armed Police Force have been deployed for search-and-rescue operations, according to the disaster authority.
The government has also been sending food and other essential supplies to affected communities by helicopter and road, although damaged infrastructure and difficult terrain have hampered relief operations.
The disaster has left large sections of northern and central Nepal without normal road access and severely damaged communications and electricity infrastructure.
Rescue and recovery operations were continuing on Wednesday, a week after the flood struck.
The latest figures underscore the scale of a disaster that has devastated communities along the Trishuli river systems and left authorities facing a huge task of recovering bodies, locating missing people and restoring basic infrastructure.
