Teams from both neighbours reach the site on Saturday
Kathmandu, Aug. 29
The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Saturady that the government has asked for specific
and specialised assistance from neighbours to further strengthen
search-and-rescue efforts in areas such as opening the tunnels where people
have been trapped.
Such support
would be accepted in technologies that help Nepal locate people alive in the
affected areas, quick forensic and DNA analysis and mortuaries to keep the
bodies, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said at a press meet at the MoFA.
According to
him, although security agencies and other response teams are currently handling
the situation effectively, specialised support is sought to handle complex
situation faced during the rescue as the operations continued.
An eleven-member
specialised technical reconnaissance team for tunnel rescue from India has been
mobilised and a tunnel rescue team from China has also arrived on Saturday.
Speaking at the
first press meet following the devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi River on
last Wednesday, August 26, swept away people, residences and livelihood, FM
Khanal said that the government has mobilised all available resources and
efforts at its disposal for search, rescue, relief and recovery operations,
with particular attention to people who remain missing, including both Nepali
and foreign nationals.
"This is
currently our national priority," he said.
The priority of
the government is to save lives, locate missing persons, rescue them, provide
urgent relief to survivors, and ensure that affected Nepalis as well as foreigners
receive appropriate assistance and support.
The search and rescue teams including security personnel,
provincial and local governments, medical and emergency responders are
continuously working together in the affected areas of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading
and Chitwan districts to locate, search, rescue and assist them who have been
affected and need urgent help.
More support needed for reconstruction
According to the
MoFA, relief and humanitarian assistance are being provided in the affected
areas. The country has received more than 57 tonnes of relief materials from
India. Essential items were also received from China, Japan, Australia and
other friendly nations.
"As relief operations continue, further assessments are
being made and we will reach out to our neighbours and international partners
for additional assistance and support as needed," said FM Khanal.
Given the extensive damage to critical infrastructure, houses,
road networks, bridges and hydropower facilities, the government is conducting a
detailed assessment of the needs, and its report will be ready soon.
FM Khanal said that the scale of the devastation is quite
significant, and the country anticipates requiring international assistance for
rehabilitation and reconstruction. He said,
"As the assessment progresses, we will communicate specific requirements
later."
Expressing concerns over some false reports circulating in
national and foreign media that Nepal has rejected international assistance and
support, he clarified that the scale of devastation is extremely huge, and
support and assistance are required, not just in the phase of rescue and
relief, but more so in the phase of reconstruction.
According to the MoFA, relief operations are focused on
providing immediate and all necessary assistance, including emergency medical
care, food, safe drinking water, temporary shelter and other essential
supplies.
The government is in close communication and coordination with 'our
immediate neighbours and international community'.
As many foreign nationals are also missing, a dedicated
Emergency Control Room has been established at the Ministry. "Our
diplomatic missions are also constantly sharing and updating verified
information, and facilitating communication with families and extend any
necessary assistance, identification and repatriation procedures," said
the Minister.
Published in The Rising Nepal on 30 August 2026.
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