Rasuwa flood death toll rises to 165 as search and rescue enters second day
At least 165 bodies have been recovered and 826 people remain unaccounted for after devastating floods swept through Nepal's northern districts, as rescuers race to reach survivors.
Nepal's disaster authorities said Wednesday that 165 bodies had been recovered after a devastating flood swept downstream from the country's northern border with China, while 826 people, including security personnel and foreign travellers, remained unaccounted for.
The bodies have yet to be identified, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said in an early morning bulletin.
At least 85 security personnel — 44 Nepal Army soldiers, 28 police officers and 13 members of the Armed Police Force — were out of contact in the flood-hit area.
The Nepal Tourism Board said an initial assessment showed 579 travellers were missing, including 466 foreign nationals and 113 Nepalis.
Rescue teams evacuated 123 people by air from Timure in Rasuwa district, including 94 Nepalis and 29 foreign nationals.
The flooding was triggered by a massive debris-laden surge that entered Nepal from the Tibetan side of the border, creating a major emergency along the Trishuli river system and putting riverside communities in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan districts at risk.
The disaster also caused extensive damage to infrastructure, with authorities reporting damage to 35 motorable bridges, 45 suspension bridges and around 40 kilometres of paved roads.
The army and private helicopters have been deployed to intensify search and rescue operations in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, while medical teams have been sent to treat the injured.
Authorities said 73 people had been injured, while search, rescue and relief operations were continuing. More than 7,000 security personnel have been mobilised for the response, according to the latest official situation report.
The full scale of the human and material losses was still being assessed.
