Rescue and relief operations are continuing in Nepal following floods and flash floods. Two workers trapped inside a tunnel for nine days have been rescued, while around 600 children remain missing in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, and 95 bodies have been identified in Chitwan.
Rescue teams have safely evacuated two workers who had been trapped inside a tunnel for around nine days in areas affected by floods and landslides.
Rescuers suspect that more people could still be trapped inside the tunnel. Search and rescue operations are therefore continuing, with authorities and rescue workers focusing on reaching anyone who may remain trapped.
The rescue comes as searches for missing people and recovery of bodies continue simultaneously across several flood-affected areas of Nepal.
The recovery and identification of bodies are continuing in flood-affected Nepal. Chitwan district has recorded the highest number of recovered bodies.
Of the bodies recovered so far, 95 have been identified. Authorities and rescue teams are searching for missing people, identifying bodies and working to hand them over to their families.
Affected families are facing difficulties obtaining information about missing relatives. Disrupted communication networks in several areas have also made it difficult for authorities to establish accurate figures.
Around 600 children are reported to remain missing in the flash-flood-affected districts of Rasuwa and Nuwakot.
According to the available figures, around 280 children are reported missing in Rasuwa. In Nuwakot, the number is estimated at between 300 and 350. Around 250 children are reported missing from Bidur Municipality alone.
Authorities are collecting information about children from schools and local institutions. However, disruptions to communication networks are making it difficult to determine the exact number of missing children.
The situation is also complicated by reports of some children being found, while new reports of missing children continue to come from different schools.
Twenty-two teachers and school employees are also reported missing in the two districts following the floods. Authorities are collecting information on the children and school employees and trying to determine their possible whereabouts.
Nepal Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has clarified that the country has not sought climate compensation from India, China or the United States.
According to Khanal, Nepal's appeal is for the international community to view the disaster in Rasuwa in the context of the effects of climate change and to come forward to support Himalayan countries.
He expressed gratitude to India for providing immediate relief and rescue assistance. The Nepal government has emphasised the need for international cooperation following the floods and flash floods.
Nepal is located in the Himalayan region, and the government has said that the impact of climate change on mountainous areas should be taken seriously at the global level.
US technology company Nvidia has announced $10 million in assistance for relief and reconstruction following the Bhotekoshi floods. The amount is equivalent to $10 million and is reported to be around 1.5 billion Nepalese rupees.
Nepal Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle thanked Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for the assistance.
According to Wagle, more than 10 billion Nepalese rupees has now been deposited in the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund following the assistance. The funds will be used for relief and rehabilitation work for people affected by the floods and flash floods.
Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah, also known as Balen, may raise the issue of climate change and its impact on mountainous regions at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Following the devastating floods in Rasuwa, Shah expressed his desire to attend the UN General Assembly session. Nepal's Foreign Ministry subsequently began preparations for his possible visit to New York.
Earlier, Shah had decided not to attend the General Assembly. The Nepal cabinet had then decided to send a delegation led by Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal.
Following the disaster in Rasuwa, climate change and its impact on Himalayan regions have again emerged on Nepal's international agenda.
India is continuing to provide relief and rescue assistance to flood-affected areas of Nepal. India's sixth and seventh relief aircraft arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday night.
The two C-130J aircraft transported a total of 21.5 tonnes of relief supplies to Nepal, including forensic kits and medical equipment.
According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, the relief material was handed over to Nepal's Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mahabir Pun.
India's Ambassador to Nepal, Navin Srivastava, said the assistance was part of India's continued support for Nepal's relief efforts following the flash floods in Rasuwa.
The ongoing rescue operation in Nepal faces several challenges, including determining the accurate number of missing people, reaching affected areas and identifying bodies. Disrupted communication networks have forced authorities to collect information from different sources.
The figures concerning missing children in Rasuwa and Nuwakot are also changing continuously. Reports of some children being found are emerging, while new information is being received from schools and local authorities.
At the same time, searches for people trapped inside the tunnel, recovery of bodies and delivery of assistance to affected families are continuing.
The Nepal government is now facing the challenge of reconstruction in affected areas alongside immediate relief efforts. International assistance, relief supplies from India and financial support from the private sector are being used in these efforts.
Rescue agencies are currently prioritising the search for missing people. The rescue of two workers alive after nine days has marked an outcome of the ongoing operation, while the search for hundreds of children and other missing people continues.
