Kathmandu— A massive search and rescue operation is underway in Nepal after a flash flood on Wednesday caused widespread devastation across multiple districts. As of Sunday, authorities have recovered the bodies of 289 victims from areas including Rusuwa, Nuwakot, Dhadhing, Gorkha, Chitwan, Tanahu, and Nawalparasi. Over thirteen thousand security personnel are currently deployed to locate survivors and recover remains, while more than nine hundred people remain missing.

Recovery Efforts Underway

Deputy Spokesperson and Deputy Superintendent of Armed Police Force, Shilendra Thapa, reported that recovery efforts have yielded 289 bodies across the affected districts. Specifically, three bodies were found in Rusuwa, twelve in Nuwakot, twenty-nine in Dhadhing, twenty-nine in Gorkha, one hundred and twenty-one in Chitwan, sixteen in Tanahu, sixty-five in Nawalparasi East, and fourteen in Nawalparasi West. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has mobilized sixty-nine helicopters to aid in the search.

Security Force Deployment

A significant number of security personnel have been deployed to assist with the ongoing rescue operation. According to Thapa, seven thousand two hundred and fifty members of the Nepal Police, two hundred from the Nepal Army, and one thousand eight hundred and forty-five from the Armed Police Force (APF) are actively involved in searching for survivors and recovering bodies.

Missing Persons Remain a Concern

Despite ongoing efforts, nine hundred and ten individuals remain out of contact. This number includes members of various security forces: twenty-eight Nepal Police, forty-four Nepal Army, thirteen APF personnel, as well as fifteen from the Custom Office and four from the Immigration Office. Additionally, one hundred and sixty-one residents of Rasuwa and one from Nuwakot are also unaccounted for. The number includes 517 foreign citizens and 127 Nepali citizens residing abroad.

Ongoing Search Operations

The NDRRMA confirmed that the mobilization of helicopters continues to be a key component of the search and rescue efforts, focusing on areas difficult to reach by ground teams. Authorities are working to establish contact with those still missing and provide assistance to affected communities.

Search and rescue operations remain active as authorities continue to grapple with the aftermath of the devastating floods and work towards accounting for all missing individuals.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.