KATHMANDU, Sept 7: The death toll from the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli flash flood has reached 1,342, with nearly 5,000 people still missing, as the scale of destruction in Rasuwa becomes clearer, with the disaster washing away 41 kilometers of roads and completely damaging eight hydropower projects.
The August 26 flood also destroyed or damaged dozens of public and private structures, bridges and other infrastructure in Rasuwa, one of the districts worst hit by the disaster.
Unveiling preliminary details of the damage caused by the flood, the District Administration Office, Rasuwa, said the disaster damaged 28 government and public buildings, eight community schools, three private schools, 14 banks and financial institutions, one petrol pump and around 1,500 private houses.
The flood also washed away 41 kilometers of roads, six concrete bridges, eight Bailey bridges and 10 suspension bridges in the district, according to a report released by Assistant Chief District Officer Dhruba Prasad Adhikari.
Floods leave Rasuwa’s infrastructure in ruins, destroy 41 km of...
Eight hydropower projects along the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli and Langtang rivers were completely damaged. They include the 111 MW Rasuwagadhi, 120 MW Bhotekoshi, 20 MW Chilime, 20 MW Langtang Khola, 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1, 5 MW Mailung Khola, 60 MW Upper Trishuli 3A and 37.3 MW Trishuli 3B projects.
As of Sunday evening, 4,996 people were still missing following the disaster. The missing include around 1,967 people reported missing from Rasuwa, 2,340 from Nuwakot, around 100 security personnel and government officials, and 589 foreign nationals.
The death toll of 1,342 includes 325 women, 523 men and 494 unidentified bodies, according to police records. Of the recovered bodies, 1,037 have been cremated or otherwise managed, while efforts to identify and manage the remaining bodies are continuing.
The number of people rescued has reached 13,391, while 6,083 injured people have received treatment, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. The Nepal Army and Armed Police Force have provided treatment to thousands of injured people, while medical treatment is also being provided at hospitals.
Security agencies have mobilised 21,465 personnel for search, rescue and relief operations, including 9,287 from the Nepal Army, 7,975 from Nepal Police and 4,203 from the Armed Police Force.
DNA samples have so far been collected from 2,472 people, including 1,286 samples from deceased people and 1,186 from their relatives, as authorities continue efforts to identify unidentified bodies.
The disaster has also disrupted electricity and communications in the affected districts. Electricity supply has been restored to 78 percent of households in Rasuwa, 96.7 percent in Nuwakot and 99.8 percent in Dhading, according to the latest government update.
Of 120 telecommunications towers operated by Nepal Telecom in the affected areas, 117 have been restored, while 76 of Ncell's 78 towers have resumed operation.
Relief supplies continue to be transported to affected areas by helicopter and road. On Sunday, food supplies were flown to Rasuwa, while generators, hygiene kits and student kits were transported by four trucks.
The government has provided Rs 10 million each to Rasuwa and Nuwakot and Rs 5 million to Dhading, while 15 affected local governments have received a combined Rs 135 million in cash support.
