Kathmandu: Relief and rescue operations are continuing after the flood and disaster in Nepal. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Balendra Shah has clarified the situation regarding foreign cooperation. He has said that the propaganda about Nepal's rejection of foreign aid is misleading. Through a post on Facebook on Friday, Prime Minister Shah said that continuous coordination is being done with India, China and international partners regarding the necessary cooperation and material for relief and rescue.
The Prime Minister also said that air security, geographical reach and actual need are being kept in mind while deploying helicopters in rescue operations. On Friday, he shared information about the major works and progress made by the government in 20 points.
15,431 security personnel deployed in relief and rescue
According to Prime Minister Shah, a total of 15,431 security personnel have been deployed in the search and rescue operation. These include 4,473 personnel of Nepal Police, 6,755 personnel of Nepali Army and 4,203 personnel of Armed Police Force Nepal. They have been deployed in the affected areas including Rasuwa, Bhotekoshi-Trishuli corridor.
So far 4,451 people have been rescued safely. These include 191 people rescued from the hydroelectric tunnel and 517 people rescued through air rescue operations on Friday.
Air rescue continues with 16 helicopters
A total of 16 helicopters of Nepali Army and private sector are continuously operating shuttle flights in the affected areas including Dhunche, Trishuli, Timure and Syafrabensi. So far 99 air flights have been completed.
So far, 32 trucks loaded with food and non-food items have been sent to deliver relief material to the affected areas. Relief material has also been delivered in six flights through helicopters. Communication equipment has also been sent to the affected areas.
Priority to evacuate people trapped in tunnels
The government has given top priority to the search and rescue of civilians and employees trapped in the tunnels. Operations are underway in Upper Trishuli Hydroelectric Project, Rasuwagadhi Hydroelectric Power Station and other at-risk tunnels. Special rescue equipment has also been deployed for this.
The search operation has also been extended to the low-lying coastal areas. Additional security personnel have been deployed in the Trishuli-Naraini river corridor from Rasuwa to Nuwakot, Dhading via Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan and Nawalparasi. Missing people and dead bodies are being searched here.
129 Protection and identification of foreign nationals
Special coordination is also being done for search, rescue and identification of foreign citizens and tourists. So far 129 foreign tourists/nationals have been rescued and identified. Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also operated an emergency control room to coordinate with embassies and families.
Prime Minister Shah reiterated that it is wrong to reject foreign cooperation. He said that constant contact and coordination is being done with India, China and international partners regarding necessary cooperation and relief material.
Keep an eye on the danger of flood again, 2 lakh SMS alert
Constant monitoring is being done in view of the possibility of re-flooding in Bhotekoshi and low-lying coastal areas. Preparations have been made to give early warning in potentially risky areas and to take people to safe places. So far, people have been warned through more than 2 lakh SMS alerts.
The Home Minister is present in the affected districts and coordinating relief operations with security agencies, local administration, local bodies and other concerned institutions.
Efforts to restore road connectivity intensified
The work of restoring road connectivity in the affected areas has also been expedited. Operation of small four-wheelers has been started by starting alternative road routes. Kathmandu-Mughlin road has been opened for one-way traffic.
Rasuwa has also been re-connected to the road network. An alternative route to Bogtitar-Kalikasthan-Dhunche via Kathmandu-Tokha-Chhare-Gadkhar Pul-Apre-Narja-Lachyang-Sarmathali-Patikhark has been opened for small four-wheelers.
The work of building bypass near the damaged bridges has also been started. A formal initiative has been taken to provide 10 48 meter long Bailey bridges from India to restore regular road connectivity.
Provision of drinking water and fuel also
Four water tankers have been installed in Nuwakot. 900 kg bleaching powder has been sent to the affected areas to provide safe drinking water.
There is a stock of 41 thousand liters of diesel and 24 thousand liters of petrol in Bhairavi, Suryamati and Panchkanya oil stores of Nuwakot. Apart from this, 17 thousand liters of aviation fuel has also been sent to Nuwakot.
15 technical teams engaged in assessing the damage
A detailed assessment of the damage caused in the disaster affected areas has been started. Sectoral groups and 15 technical teams have been deployed to take stock of the damage caused to roads, bridges, power, drinking water, telecom, hydropower and other infrastructure.
The Health Emergency Operations Center has been activated to ensure continuity of health services. Six hospitals have been kept on standby. Medical teams from various institutions including Veer Hospital, National Trauma Center and Dhulikhel Hospital have been sent to the affected areas.
Tents and emergency health supplies have been arranged for at least 5,000 people.
145 telecom sites restored
Of the 198 towers/sites affected, 145 have been made operational. 82 out of 120 sites of Nepal Telecom and 63 out of 78 sites of Nsel have been restored. Service restoration work is underway at the remaining sites by providing technical and energy resources.
Progress has also been made in restoring power supply. Electricity supply has been restored in about 90 percent area of Nuwakot. Necessary work is going on to start electricity service in Dhunche.
Preparation of safe accommodation for affected families
Arrangements for safe accommodation and transportation are being made for at-risk families. The process of identification and rehabilitation of locations for emergency shelter is ongoing.
To ease access to villages cut off due to road and bridge blockage, work on construction of tuin i.e. rope bridges has been taken forward at about 10 places in Rasuwa and Nuwakot.
More than 1.9 billion Nepali rupees deposited in relief fund
A total of Rs 6 crore 75 lakh has been made available to 15 local bodies affected by flood and disaster for immediate relief and rescue. More than 1.9 billion Nepali rupees have been deposited in the Prime Minister's Divine Outbreak Relief Fund in the last 36 hours.
Relief and rehabilitation packages are being prepared for affected people, families and businesses. The process of preparing a business recovery package for affected individuals and business institutions has also been initiated.
The system of depositing one month's salary/remuneration of all the members of the Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the relief fund has also been extended.
Resources being mobilized at national and international level
National and international cooperation is being mobilized in an integrated manner for relief, rescue and rehabilitation. Efforts are underway to provide necessary resources by coordinating with security agencies, health institutions, Red Cross, Nepal Scouts, voluntary organizations, private sector and development partners.
Finally, Prime Minister Balendra Shah congratulated Nepali MMA player Ravindra Dhant for reaching the finals by winning in 'Road to UFC'. He also thanked them for making the international community aware of the disaster situation in Nepal.
Prime Minister Shah said that at this time the entire attention of the government is focused on the affected citizens. He said that the government is continuously working to understand the ground situation, take necessary decisions and mobilize resources accordingly.