1
Despite more than a week passing since the devastating floods and landslides struck the Himalayan nation of Nepal, rescue operations continue in its remote mountainous regions. The death toll continues to rise, with Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reporting the recovery of 1,270 bodies so far.
According to Nepalese authorities, over 4,000 people remain missing due to the floods. Casualties and disappearances have also been reported in the Tibetan region. Army personnel and rescue teams are working tirelessly, day and night, to rescue those trapped in inaccessible mountainous areas, utilizing helicopters and ziplines.
Hundreds of workers are believed to be trapped in underground tunnels of several hydropower plants located near the Chinese border. The army is currently working to clear mud from the entrance of a tunnel at a power plant in Rasuwa district. Rescue officials have expressed hope that some individuals might still be alive inside the tunnels despite the challenging conditions.
Family members of the missing gather daily at the sites, desperate for news of their loved ones. Pratik Rana, the son of a missing engineer, shared his plight: “Every day I come here hoping to find my father. But with each sunset, my hope diminishes.”
According to information from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), at least 2.2 million tons of debris have accumulated across the affected areas due to the floods and mudslides. Thousands of displaced individuals are currently housed in school buildings and temporary shelters.
Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah has assured rehabilitation for the affected along with ongoing rescue efforts. The disaster management authority reported that approximately 20,000 homes have been damaged by the floods. To mitigate the risk of similar natural disasters in the future, the Nepal government is planning to develop new settlements in safer areas rather than rebuilding homes in their original, vulnerable locations.
Source: Al Jazeera