Kathmandu— Devastating floods triggered by the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal on Wednesday have resulted in at least 616 confirmed fatalities, according to authorities. The flooding impacted numerous districts including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, Gorkha, Tanahun, and both Nawalparasi districts, prompting widespread rescue and search operations coordinated by Nepal Police and local communities. Efforts are also underway to clear blocked roadways and restore regular traffic flow in the affected areas.

Extent of Casualties

As of 6:00 am Wednesday morning, authorities had recovered 616 bodies from various locations impacted by the flooding. The breakdown of fatalities shows a significant concentration in Chitwan district with 233 deaths, followed by Nawalparasi East with 158 and Nawalparasi West with 47. Rasuwa, where the initial flooding occurred, reported 13 deaths, while Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Tanahun districts recorded 41, 45, 48, and 31 fatalities respectively.

Ongoing Rescue Operations

Nepal Police spokesperson Abinarayan Kafle stated that rescue and search operations are being conducted in coordination with relevant agencies and the support of local residents. These efforts aim to locate any remaining victims and provide assistance to those affected by the disaster. Authorities are also prioritizing the removal of roadblocks to facilitate the resumption of normal traffic patterns throughout the impacted regions.

Search and rescue teams continue to work diligently across multiple districts, focusing on locating missing individuals and restoring essential infrastructure.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.