By 7 PM, the death toll reached 1,341, with around 5,000 people still missing. Security forces have continued search and rescue operations.
Amid the devastating loss of human life and physical infrastructure, some good news is emerging. Two additional people were rescued alive from Ruwakot and Rasuwa districts, rekindling hope that many trapped in the floodwaters may still be alive. Yesterday, two people were rescued from a hydropower tunnel on the 10th day following the flash flood.
The news of the joint rescue team of the Armed Police Force, Nepal, and Nepal Police rescuing 64-year-old Chandrika Shrestha today from flood-affected Betrawati in Bidur-10, Nuwakot, has brought hope to the entire nation. This news is also a message that we are still relentlessly engaged in search and rescue efforts," said PM Balendra Shah.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chairman of the Nepali Communist Party, stated that more lives could have been saved if rescue efforts had been expedited in the initial days of the flooding. Earlier, on September 4, two people were rescued from another hydropower project.
Initially, the government decided not to bring in foreign rescuers, stating that the Nepali Army was capable of handling the operations. Three days following the flood disaster, the Nepalese government decided to request assistance from foreign search and rescue teams.
Authorities are preparing for Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly. Before the flood, Shah had nominated Shishir Khanal to lead the Nepali delegation.
However, following the Bhote Koshi flood, Shah decided to attend the assembly himself to inform the international community about the adverse impacts of climate change that Nepal is facing. Nepal is seeking reparations for climate-related disasters.
Nevertheless, observers note that it may be too early to raise the issue of climate justice while the country is still grappling with active search and rescue operations. This will mark Shah’s first trip abroad since becoming prime minister in April.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has arrived in Nepal for a three-day official visit. The purpose of his visit is to assess the ongoing efforts to locate missing South Korean nationals and to consult with Nepalese government officials. South Korea has dispatched a team of experts to assist in rescuing individuals trapped in hydropower project tunnels. He is the most senior foreign official to visit Nepal since the devastating August 26 flood. Nine South Koreans working on a hydropower project remain missing.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava stated that efforts are underway to rescue people trapped inside the Chilime tunnel. He noted that rescue teams continue to clear heavy debris, water, and mud, which inside the tunnel has accumulated nearly to the roof.
The Nepalese government is preparing to enact a new law to relocate settlements from high-risk zones in response to the Bhote Koshi flood. Provisions regarding the relocation of communities in vulnerable locations have been incorporated into a draft bill. However, experiences following the 2015 earthquake demonstrate that this is a challenging undertaking, as residents are often reluctant to leave their homelands due to emotional attachment. Consequently, many houses built for earthquake victims went unused as residents returned to their original lands.
The government stated that it is working to restore the normal distribution of cooking gas. Kathmandu is currently facing a shortage of LPG due to the blockade of the Prithvi Highway. With the festival season approaching, the government is under pressure to stabilize the supply chain. Concerns have been raised that a failure to ensure cooking gas supplies could force hotels and restaurants to shut down, further impacting the already fragile tourism industry. Additionally, the government faces criticism for recent price increases on cooking gas.
Efforts to install bailey bridges in flood-affected regions have been expedited. The Xizang Autonomous Region has already handed over bailey bridges to Nepal, and India is also dispatching bridge units. Nepal’s two neighbors, India and China, are providing extensive support.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s national flag has been re-hoisted at the Rasuwagadhi Nepal–China international border crossing. Following the flood, a joint team from the Armed Police Force, Nepal, and the Nepali Army navigated a hazardous route to raise the flag at the border.
Eleven days after the disaster, the Nepalese government has yet to produce a comprehensive damage assessment. Displaced residents staying in holding centers await official decisions regarding their long-term housing. In the evening, Prime Minister Balendra Shah said: “We will make your temporary stay as soon as possible and arrange safe housing for you as quickly as we can.”
He said government is standing with the flood victims. While school children remain uncertain about when their classes will resume.It remains unclear how the government will fund rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts given the current economic downturn.Despite national and international support, funding remains inadequate. The government is relying heavily on neighboring India and China for rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance, mirroring their support after the 2015 earthquake.
Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Editor
