Kathmandu, August 29: The death toll from the Bhote Koshi flood disaster in Nepal has risen to 626, while 2,426 people are still missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said.
According to the latest update issued at 10 am on August 29, Chitwan recorded the highest number of deaths at 233, followed by Nawalparasi East with 158, Nuwakot 51, Gorkha 48, Nawalparasi West 47, Dhading 45, Tanahun 31 and Rasua 13.
The missing persons include 27 Nepal Police personnel, 45 Nepal Army personnel, 13 Armed Police Force personnel, 15 Customs officials and four Immigration officials. Rasua has reported 562 missing people and Nuwakot 115, while 933 people linked to hydropower projects and 65 from Makwanpur are also missing.
The disaster has also affected foreigners and Nepali citizens living abroad. 517 foreign nationals and 127 overseas Nepali citizens are among those reported missing.
So far, 4,451 people have been rescued, including 191 from hydropower tunnels and 517 evacuated by air. Among those rescued are 129 foreign nationals. Meanwhile, 101 injured people are receiving treatment in hospitals.
Sixteen helicopters have carried out 99 rescue sorties. Authorities have also deployed 15,224 security personnel for search, rescue and relief operations.
Flooding damaged 198 telephone towers, of which 145 have been restored. The government has released financial assistance for affected areas, while 37 trucks carrying food and other relief supplies have been dispatched.
NDRRMA said 39,000 litres of aviation fuel have been sent to Nuwakot, with additional fuel available or in transit. Further details on missing and rescued people are being shared through the authority’s official website and social media platforms.
