Kathmandu, Sept 2: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) shared information that government has continued search and rescue works in a bid to trace the people trapped in the tunnels following the catastrophic Bhotekoshi flash flood.
A tunnel rescue team from India is currently working in Langtang and Chilime in coordination with the Nepali rescue team, MoFA said, adding that although there was some progress on creating an opening in the tunnels, the mud and huge stones entered into the tunnels slowed the progress lately.
In a press briefing held on Wednesday, MoFA spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri said, “A Chinese tunnel rescue team has been mobilized at the Upper Trishuli -III ‘A’. The team members are working together with the Nepali rescue team. They have already opened some parts of the tunnel.”
Similarly, a Korean tunnel rescue workers, in collaboration with the Nepali team, are involved in opening the tunnel of Upper Trishuli-I. Spokesperson Chhetri further said additional support and logistics were expected from the Republic of Korea to speed up the search and rescue operations.
The Nepal Police has forwarded analysis of DNA samples along with the involvement of a 19-member Indian forensic team. “Even a 5-member special forensic team arrived from China yesterday. The team is working to accelerate the processing and analysis of DNA samples in close coordination with the Nepal Police,” he added.
A 6-member ‘disaster victim identification team’ has also arrived from Singapore, while 13 more members are arriving today with DNA testing equipment, according to MoFA. More members, including high-capacity drones and other logistics, will join the team next day.
An additional Korean forensic team with necessary equipment and resources has also recently joined the forensic works.
The security agencies, government bodies, medical and emergency response squads and other relevant departments are working with utmost unison in the affected areas. A joint squad of the Nepal Army, the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force has continued search, rescue, rehabilitation and relief operations in the disaster hit areas.
He also shared updated information on number of persons confirmed dead and those gone missing. Total 1,114 dead bodies were retrieved, while some 3,900 still unaccounted for. So far, 11,993 people have been rescued; of them, 300 are foreign nationals. Five of them are in contact and safe, spokesperson Chhetri stated. Nearly 590 foreign nationals from 34 countries were still missing since the tragic floods.
2,500 pilgrims return home safely
“Of the estimated 3,000 people who were on their way to and from pilgrim site, Mount Kailash, during the disaster, nearly 2,500 persons- most of them pilgrims- have returned via Hilsa and Tatopani border points. The remaining ones have also been facilitated to return and some are returning via air route from Lhasa,” he said.
According to MoFA, approximately 1,500 Nepali citizens are currently in Kerung and are coordinating with the Chinese side to return home soon.
MoFA reiterated that it was coordinating with Chinese authorities to re-route the 176 Nepali trucks and containers in Kerung through viable border points. Nearly 100 Nepali citizens had gone missing on the Chinese side of border on the day of the disaster.
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