We have rescued 136 people from 34 flights and sent them to Kathmandu. Among them, 127 are foreign nationals. Even this morning, we have moved more than 150 stranded nationals and foreigners to a safe place in the skirting of security personnel.
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The disaster that started on Tuesday morning when the flood from Tibet mixed with the Bhotekoshi river has caused a huge loss of life and property. The flood swept away the Miteri bridge connecting Nepal and China. The dry harbor has also suffered major damage.
At least 19 people, including 6 Chinese nationals, are without contact in the flood. 4 hydropower projects including Rasuwagadhi have been damaged. 24 container cars, 6 trucks and about 35 EV cars with goods in the dry port have been washed away . Kantipur worker Bimal Khatiwada has a brief conversation with the Chief District Officer of Rasuwa Arjun Paudel about rescue and search operations and road operations after the flood. Here is an edited part of the same conversation:
What is the entire security system working on now?
The entire security system of our district is in the field. We are continuing the rescue operations . This morning we have returned from the field study . The rescue of those trapped in the flood continues . We have rescued 136 people from 34 flights and sent them to Kathmandu. 127 of them were foreign nationals.
Even this morning, we have moved more than 150 stranded nationals and foreigners to a safe place under the skirting of security personnel. While skirting and bringing to a safe place, Armed Police Assistant Constable Vishal Thapa was injured after falling from the Bhir. The task of rescuing him too has been done . He is also being prepared to be sent to Kathmandu by helicopter.
Where was the biggest impact of the flood?
The biggest damage is that the Miteri bridge has been washed away . The customs yard has also suffered a lot of damage. 15 to 20 vehicles are seen buried in the customs yard . Some of them are completely buried and some are only half. The fences are torn in many places in the yard . We have declared that area as Red Area . There are also items inside the vehicles in the yard. Security personnel are contacting the owners of those vehicles and coordinating to move those items to a safe place . It is suspected that some of the missing people may have escaped from the yard and some may have been buried there. The investigation is also ongoing. How easy does
searching seem? It looks like we need heavy equipment for
search operations . We do not currently have such tools . It is also a problem to bring such equipment until the road is opened .
The flood has also damaged the road ?
Yesterday, when we reached here by walking, the road is blocked in 10 to 12 places . According to the road engineer, 1,100 meters of the road has been heavily damaged in 10 places.
What do you see as urgent priority tasks?
The impact of the flood has been felt in many places . The flood has cut off communication in places where more than 2 thousand people live. According to the information we have received, there is only enough food for three to four days.
Now we have to start preparing to deliver food there . Electricity and telephone services are also disrupted there. Therefore, rescue and other works have become difficult. We are doing some outreach from the Chinese border . We have also started efforts to start telephone service and resume electricity supply .
