India airlifts 4th tranche of relief aid to Nepal along with a forensic team
Kathmandu: The death toll from the Bhote Koshi flood disaster in Nepal has risen to 734, while 2419 people remain missing or out of contact, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).
According to the latest update issued by NDRRMA as of 9 AM, Chitwan reported the highest number of recovered bodies at 259, including human body parts, followed by Nawalparasi East with 184, Nawalparasi West with 82, Gorkha with 58, Nuwakot with 52, Dhading with 50, Tanahun with 36 and Rasuwa with 13.
Of the 2,419 people reported missing or out of contact, 589 are foreign nationals, while 127 are Nepalis accompanying foreign tourists. The missing include 933 people from hydropower projects, 562 in Rasuwa and 115 in Nuwakot, according to the NDRRMA.
The disaster has also left 242 people injured, including those currently under treatment and those who have been discharged. Surgical medical teams have been mobilised in the affected areas. A total of 19,895 security personnel have been deployed for search, rescue and relief operations. The deployment includes 8,399 Nepal Army personnel, 7,293 Nepal Police personnel and 4,203 personnel from the Armed Police Force Nepal.
The authorities said 8,186 people have so far been rescued, including 2,974 by the Nepal Army, 2,699 by Nepal Police and 2,513 by the Armed Police Force Nepal. A total of 279 people, including 227 foreign nationals, have been rescued by helicopter from a hydropower tunnel. Unidentified bodies recovered during the operations have been kept across 21 hospitals in various districts, the NDRRMA said.
The Government of Nepal has provided NPR 10 million each to Rasuwa and Nuwakot, NPR 5 million to Dhading and NPR 67.5 million to 15 local municipalities as cash assistance. Meanwhile, 37 trucks carrying food and non-food relief materials have been dispatched to affected areas, while seven helicopter flights have been conducted to transport relief supplies. Communication sets and radios have also been sent to affected regions.
Meanwhile, flow in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa has reportedly increased further, urging personnel involved in search, rescue and relief operations to exercise utmost caution. In a post on X, NDRRMA said, “Alert: The flow of the flood in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa has reportedly increased further. The authority urged all personnel engaged in search, rescue and relief operations in affected areas, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan, as well as surrounding regions, to remain vigilant.
Meanwhile, India sent its fourth flight to Kathmandu carrying essential supplies and specialised technical capabilities to support Nepal’s ongoing rescue and relief operations. In a post on X, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “The fourth Indian flight has touched down in Kathmandu. It brings essential supplies and technical capabilities to support Nepal’s ongoing rescue & relief operations”.
Indian Embassy in Nepal, through its official handle on X, ‘India in Nepal’, said the fourth flight was carrying 11 tons of relief materials, which had been handed over to Nepal. “This includes a tunnel technical team equipped for search and rescue operations, a team of forensic experts for DNA analysis, and relief materials such as blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, plastic sheets and hygiene kits”, Embassy said. India is continously stepping up both land and air support.
Highlighting India’s robust infrastructure support, Dr. Jaishankar detailed that 16 trucks carrying equipment for a 230-foot Single Lane Modular Steel Bridge have already reached Nepal. Furthermore, equipment for seven additional Bailey bridges will be dispatched shortly, accompanied by technical teams for swift installation to restore critical land connectivity.
With the latest dispatch, India has airlifted a total of 68.5 tonnes of relief material to Kathmandu, comprising essential medicines, portable generator sets, food packets, water purification tablets and heavy technical equipment. Reaffirming India’s solidarity, Dr. Jaishankar reiterated New Delhi’s commitment to standing by Nepal throughout the relief and reconstruction phase.
India has also deployed a forensic team in Nepal to assist in analyzing DNA samples and identifying the mortal remains of the victims. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava met the Indian forensic team deployed in the flood-hit country.
“Ambassador Naveen Srivastava met members of the Indian Forensic Team deployed to Nepal. The team will work alongside their Nepali counterparts in analysing DNA samples to assist in identifying the mortal remains of the victims of the recent flash floods”, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
Srivastava shared on X, “Met the members of Indian Forensic Team that arrived on 4th relief flight to Kathmandu. They will be working with their Nepali counterparts to support the analysis of DNA samples of those who lost their lives in the tragic flash flood in #Rasuwa. India will continue to strongly support the ongoing relief efforts of Nepal”.
While India has provided relief supplies to the neighbouring country, Nepal also sought additional support from India for forensic laboratories and rapid DNA analysis to identify more than 600 bodies recovered in the flash floods that ravaged the country.
Nepal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal, said, “We are seeking additional support for forensic laboratories. We have found more than 600 bodies, many of them in very difficult conditions to identify. We need to conduct rapid DNA analysis, so we are seeking that kind of support and are actively engaged”.
Among the ongoing relief efforts, significant progress has been made in ensuring the safety of stranded citizens, with 108 Indian nationals safely rescued from affected areas in Nepal so far. Updating on the situation, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated in a post on X that as of 22:30 hours on Saturday, 108 Indian nationals had been rescued. He added that contact has been re-established with 40 Indian nationals, while local government sources confirmed that 598 Indian nationals have safely crossed into Nepal from China.
Addressing the status of others in the region, Jaiswal informed that around 900 Indian nationals are currently waiting to depart China. They remain safe, and the Indian Embassy in Beijing is maintaining active contact with them. However, efforts continue to trace 275 Indian nationals and 128 Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) who are currently reported missing.
(With Inputs from ANI)
