Nepal flash floods: Death toll rises to 1,344, 4,886 still missing
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Kathmandu: The death toll from last week’s devastating floods in Nepal has risen to 1,344, with bodies continuing to be recovered from several affected districts.
According to the latest data released by the Nepal Police, 1,344 bodies swept away by the Bhote Koshi River had been recovered as of 8 a.m. on Saturday.
The toll could rise further, with 4,886 people, including 606 foreigners, still out of contact following the floods that caused extensive loss of life and property along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors in central Nepal.
A large number of those missing are believed to be trapped inside tunnels at 11 hydropower projects located along the two river corridors, as rescue operations continue.
On Friday, two people were rescued alive from a tunnel at the 60MW Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower project in Rasuwa district.
The Nepali government said rescue operations were continuing to locate those still out of contact, while authorities were also carrying out body recovery, identification and relief operations.
Security agencies have intensified search and rescue efforts across the flood-affected areas. Police said 8,962 people have so far been rescued, including 1,552 foreigners.
Authorities have also stepped up efforts to identify the recovered bodies. DNA samples have been collected from 1,260 deceased people and 1,012 relatives of the victims, taking the total number of samples collected to 2,272, according to the police.
The Nepal Police has deployed 7,912 personnel for search, rescue and relief operations. Sixty-five police personnel have themselves been affected by the disaster, while 25 remain out of contact.
The floods have also caused extensive damage to physical infrastructure and private property along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems.
Nepal has sought international support for the restoration of the affected areas once the rescue and relief phases are completed.
With IANS inputs