Kathmandu, August 31: The recent catastrophic floods in Nepal have been labeled a mega disaster by Disaster Authority Chief Dr. Dharmaraj Upreti. He reported that 781 bodies have been recovered so far, while 2,502 individuals remain unaccounted for. Approximately 8,730 people have been rescued, with 19,895 security personnel engaged in ongoing rescue operations. Dr. Upreti indicated that there are fears of people being trapped in six tunnels, and efforts to evacuate them are underway. Rescue teams are receiving assistance from tunnel experts from India and China in their operations and information sharing.
Dr. Upreti stated, “We have recovered 781 bodies, and 2,502 people are still missing. About 8,730 individuals have been rescued, and nearly 19,895 security forces are deployed for the search and rescue operations. There are concerns that people may be trapped in the tunnels, and we are making every effort to bring them to safety. We hope to rescue more individuals.”
Regarding the flood threat, he noted, “The floods have severely impacted our region, causing widespread panic. Even the day after the floods, we received reports of another wave approaching. We sent numerous SMS alerts to at-risk communities. The river flow increased slightly, but not as intensely as before. This morning, we received similar messages from our security and administrative sources in the northern part, prompting us to issue further SMS alerts to communities downstream to mitigate future risks.”
Dr. Upreti mentioned that subsequent flooding has disrupted their operations on the ground, as the fear of recurring disasters looms large. The infrastructure and river flow stations have been severely damaged, leading to chaos. He explained that there is no observation system in the upstream areas, which has contributed to the crisis. The only existing station has collapsed, but another station is located about 150 kilometers downstream. When flooding occurs there, many people upstream are affected.
He elaborated that they have categorized the areas into upstream, mid-stream, downstream, and far downstream. When sending SMS alerts, they ensure that all four regions receive notifications to prevent future risks.
When asked if Nepal is seeking additional assistance from India for search, rescue, and medical operations, he confirmed that India has already deployed skilled experts. Tunnel specialists are already on the ground, collaborating with Nepali security forces in the ongoing efforts. If further assistance is needed, they are in contact with Indian authorities through the embassy.
Regarding China’s response, Dr. Upreti noted that the northern region is linked to elevated mountainous areas. China is cooperating and regularly providing information. Even this morning, they received updates from China.
Expressing condolences for the victims of this tragedy, he remarked that it is one of the most significant disasters, leaving many in shock. This is not just a typical disaster; it is a cascading, complex mega disaster that has claimed many lives. People have lost their infrastructure, settlements, families, and cultural values. As a tourism hotspot, everything has been devastated. The losses are not merely economic but also non-economic. Our community and neighbors are grieving as they have lost family members, marking this as a profound tragedy.
He estimated that around 9,500 homes have been damaged. Critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, health facilities, water supply systems, and irrigation facilities have all been affected. The adaptation measures previously developed have also been destroyed, indicating that the losses could be three, five, or even ten times greater when considering both economic and non-economic factors.
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