Kathmandu— Following the August 26th flooding of the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, Minister for Information and Communications Dr. Bikram Timilsina stated that the immediate priorities are rescuing individuals who remain missing and recovering the bodies of those who perished in the disaster. The government is actively engaged in search operations, providing relief to displaced populations, and working to restore critical infrastructure damaged by the floods.

Ongoing Rescue and Recovery Operations

Minister Timilsina explained that two dedicated helicopters have been deployed specifically for collecting and transporting bodies from the flood-affected areas. He also noted that those completely displaced by the flooding are receiving food and shelter at designated holding centers. The government is working continuously to locate and rescue individuals believed to be trapped within tunnels of hydropower projects in the region, focusing on those attempting to escape the rising waters.

Hope for Survivors Remains

Despite the severity of the situation, Minister Timilsina expressed optimism about the possibility of finding additional survivors. He cited historical examples of successful rescues against challenging odds, indicating that rescue teams are maintaining hope while continuing their search efforts. “We still have hope that some of them may be found alive,” he said.

Infrastructure Restoration Underway

Recognizing the significant disruption to connectivity caused by the floods, the government is prioritizing the restoration of transportation routes across the Trishuli River. Initiatives are underway to install Bailey bridges at three key locations – Devighat, Dhunge, and Betrawati – to facilitate movement and aid delivery.

Focus on Affected Areas

The Minister spoke with the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) from Nuwakot regarding the ongoing operations. He detailed the government’s response to the disaster in Bhotekoshi river, Rasuwa district.

Efforts to locate missing persons and restore infrastructure are continuing as Nepal assesses the full extent of the damage caused by the recent floods.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.