Death Toll Rises to 616 in Nepal Floods as Government Seeks International Aid

Kathmandu, August 29: The death toll from the sudden floods in Nepal has reached 616 as of Saturday morning, with hundreds still reported missing, according to local media citing officials.

As reported by the prominent newspaper ‘The Kathmandu Post’, by 6 AM on Saturday, police had recovered bodies in various districts: 233 in Chitwan, 158 in Nawalparasi East, 48 in Gorkha, 47 in Nawalparasi West, 45 in Dhading, 41 in Nuwakot, 31 in Tanahun, and 13 in Rasuwa.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the affected districts. Authorities have stated that police are collaborating with local residents and other agencies to locate missing persons and assist those trapped by the floods.

Survivors are being moved to safer locations away from high-risk areas. Additionally, rescue teams are clearing debris and landslides blocking roads to facilitate movement and aid efforts.

The severe flooding that struck Rasuwa on Wednesday originated from Tibet in China. It flowed into Nepal via the Bhote Koshi River, causing widespread devastation across the country.

Bodies have been recovered along the riverbanks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi East, and Nawalparasi West. Officials warn that the death toll may rise as search and rescue operations continue.

Meanwhile, the Nepalese government has agreed to accept international search and rescue teams for assistance. Previously, the government led by Balendra Shah had refused help, claiming that Nepali rescuers were capable of managing the search operations without foreign aid.

However, according to ‘The Kathmandu Post’, this decision did not last a day, as the administration opted to seek limited international assistance for rescue efforts.

According to the latest data from the Nepal Tourism Board, the majority of the missing individuals are Indian nationals. On Friday, a third aircraft carrying aid supplies and an 11-member medical and tunnel rescue team arrived in Nepal from India.

This aircraft contained 10 tons of humanitarian aid, including portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets, and water purification tablets.

Additionally, India provided a second shipment of humanitarian aid and disaster relief materials, including medicines and food packets (37.5 tons), on Thursday to support relief and rescue operations in the wake of the devastating floods.