Kathmandu. The death toll from the devastating floods that struck Nepal last week has crossed 1,000, while bodies washed away along riverbanks continue to be recovered. In its latest update on Tuesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said that a total of 1,003 bodies had been recovered so far. The highest number, 321 bodies, were recovered from the southern district of Chitwan, followed by 216 bodies from eastern Nawalparasi.
According to the NDRRMA, 3,916 people, including 583 foreign nationals, are still missing and remain out of contact. The missing include personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police, as well as other government employees.
The authority said that 639 people working at various hydropower projects located along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers are among those still missing.
Government officials said search, rescue and relief operations are continuing across the affected districts. The authority reported that 279 people have been injured in the disaster. Efforts are also underway to identify the victims and compile detailed information about those injured and deceased.
According to the NDRRMA, a total of 21,314 security personnel have been deployed for search, rescue and relief operations. These include 9,199 personnel from the Nepal Army, 7,912 from the Nepal Police and 4,203 from the Armed Police Force.
The authority said unidentified bodies have been kept at 21 different locations for identification and proper management. According to the latest update, 11,884 people have been rescued so far. Search and rescue operations are continuing in the flood-affected areas, with security agencies using helicopters and other resources to reach people who remain stranded.
Meanwhile, the Nepal Army said it is continuing search and rescue operations at various hydropower projects with assistance from foreign experts. Joint rescue operations are being conducted at the Chilime Hydropower Project, Langtang Hydropower Project, Upper Trishuli-1 and Trishuli-3A, among other locations.
According to the Nepal Army, 279 people were rescued alive from hydropower project areas during the rescue operations launched immediately after the floods.
These included two people from Rasuwagadhi, 33 from Upper Trishuli-1, 221 from Upper Trishuli-3A, two from Upper Trishuli-3B, nine from Mailung, four from the Nuwakot Solar Power Project, three from the Trishuli Hydropower Project and five from the Devghat Hydropower Project.
