Kathmandu : The Nepalese government has overturned its earlier decision to bar international search-and-rescue teams from areas affected by the Bhotekoshi flash floods, following diplomatic pressure from countries whose citizens are still missing. On Wednesday, the government had maintained that Nepali rescue teams were capable of conducting the search operations and that foreign teams would not be permitted to participate.
“We received massive pressure from the international community to allow at least search-and-rescue teams and some experts because their citizens have also gone missing in the floods,” a senior government official told The Kathmandu Post. “We are allowing a limited number of experts in certain areas.” The flash floods devastated settlements along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, killing more than 550 people as of Friday. Another 1,924 people remain missing, as per a report by Nepal Disaster Authority .
Based on an assessment by the National Disaster Management Centre of Nepal, an inter-ministerial coordination committee has approved assistance from India, China, Australia and South Korea. Experts and technicians from the four countries will assist with tunnel rescue operations, DNA testing and forensic examinations. Several other countries that have offered relief assistance have also expressed a willingness to send specialist teams. However, Nepal has not accepted all such requests.
Around 1,350 people were working at the project when the disaster struck. “576 people are uncontactable. There is no clear information about where they are. If some are trapped inside the tunnels and can be reached in time, there is a possibility of saving them,” said Uttam Bhlom, Senior Vice-President, Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN). Authorities are also considering using private helicopters to access the affected sites. However, limited landing space and technical and safety challenges have made aerial rescue operations difficult.
Jaishankar also mentioned that a third flight carrying 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance had departed for Kathmandu. The consignment included portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets and water purification tablets. An 11-member team of doctors, paramedics and tunnel rescue specialists was also sent along with India’s fourth tranche of relief material to Nepal.
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