Kathmandu, Aug. 29: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said that the government was with the flood-affected people and added that the rescue and rehabilitation efforts will continue until the desired results are achieved.
Taking to his Facebook account today, the PM said that the government was highly sensitive to and concerned about the loss of lives and property in the lower riparian areas in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts, adding that the government has left no stone unturned in rescue, search and relief operations in the flood-affected areas immediately after the disaster.
The PM said these efforts are ongoing on a full scale in coordination, cooperation and facilitation with people’s representatives and officials from the federal, provincial and local levels.
PM Shah has reiterated that saving the lives of every affected citizen was the first priority of the government by mobilizing all available state mechanisms.
Amid unfavourable weather and difficult geographical terrain, a total of 7,514 people have been rescued and taken to safety as of 5:30 pm on Saturday, PM Shah added.
Likewise, he said that 279 people trapped in different hydropower projects were rescued, and the Nepali Army has continued its rescue efforts at other sites too.
In his statement, the PM mentioned that additional security personnel have been deployed every day in the affected sites and more helicopters have also been kept on standby. However, multiple flights at a time have not been possible due to difficult geographical conditions and unfavourable weather conditions, according to the PM.
Similarly, the PM said that the government has made the best possible efforts to ensure healthcare services to those in need in the flood-hit areas, as well as psychosocial counselling services to the injured and their family members.
PM Shah stated that a total of 657 bodies had been retrieved from Rasuwa, Dhading, Nuwakot, Chitwan, Tanahun, Gorkha, Nawalparasi Bardaghat Purba and Nawalparasi Bardaghat Paschim districts, and the bodies were being kept in airtight bags.
These bodies are being managed in accordance with the Unidentified and Unclaimed Bodies Management (First Amendment) Directive, 2083 BS.
The bases for conducting DNA tests on those bodies found in an unidentified state, as well as for other identification purposes, will be secured before managing the bodies.
Those bodies identified by the families are being handed over to their families. The Prime Minister urged one and all not to doubt the government’s response.
Three camps have been established in Rasuwa and 15 in Nuwakot in coordination with the respective District Administration Offices and local levels to accommodate affected people who are not injured. The federal government continues to dispatch relief materials to such camps.
Likewise, personnel and mechanisms of the Nepal Red Cross, Nepal Scout, Lions Club and other volunteer organisations have been mobilised in the affected areas. Arrangements are in place to accommodate around 3,500 displaced people temporarily in schools and public and community buildings.
Relief materials are being collected at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) warehouse, the Kathmandu District Administration Office, the Samakhusi-based Nepal Police Disaster Centre and the Babarmahal-based premises of the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction.
The collected relief materials are being dispatched to the Nepali Army’s Maithil Barrack in Battar of Nuwakot and Uttargaya in Rasuwa to distribute them in the affected areas in coordination with the respective Assistant Chief District Officers, security personnel and other concerned stakeholders.
Prior to the disaster, there were 120 BTS towers of Nepal Telecom and 78 towers of Ncell Mobile Phone Company in the affected areas. Due to the floods, the services of 38 NTC towers and 27 Ncell towers were disrupted. Now, services have resumed at 90 NT towers and 71 Ncell towers.
Rasuwa has already been reconnected to the national road network via Kathmandu-Tokha-Chhahare-Gadkhar Bridge-APPRA-Narja-Lachyang-Sarmathali-Patikharka, while a 13-kilometre Galchhi-Malekhu road section along the Prithvi Highway has been restored. An alternative route to Dhadingbesi has come into operation.
