Nepal floods: 88 Indians rescued, 287 still missing; India Sends Forensic, Tunnel Teams — Latest Update | Today’s news
Nepal floods: Four Indian nationals were rescued from a water project in Rasuwa district on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, as rescue and relief operations continued in the flood-hit area. Specialized technical and forensic teams have also been sent to the Himalayan nation to help with rescue and identification efforts, he added.
The four rescued Indians have been identified as Ripu Kumar, Chaneshwar Narzary, Kripa Shankar and Mohammed Minhajuddin, according to the latest MEA update.
The four are expected to arrive in Kathmandu soon, the ministry said, raising the number of Indian nationals rescued so far to 88, while 287 Indians remain missing. The ministry also said 128 people of Indian origin are missing as authorities continue to search for those missing. Meanwhile, 120 Indian nationals crossed into Nepal from China on Saturday, the MEA said.
Indian forensics, tunnel teams sent to help Nepal
Quick answers to key questions
•5 QUESTIONS
Since the last update, 88 Indians have been rescued from flood-affected areas in Nepal.
Nepal initially rejected foreign rescue teams in favor of deploying its own forces, which are familiar with the local terrain and environmental conditions.
India is providing forensic DNA analysis teams and technical teams for tunnel rescue operations to help Nepal in the aftermath of the floods.
Currently, 2426 people are missing in Nepal after the devastating floods.
Yes, Nepal has said it needs foreign assistance for specialized areas such as tunnel rescue and identification of mortal remains due to a lack of local expertise.
Six teams of forensic experts from India are expected to arrive in Kathmandu on Saturday to help with DNA analysis to identify the remains, the MEA said. India’s specialized technical team for rescue survey in the tunnel arrived in Kathmandu on Friday and started working in the affected area on Saturday, according to the MEA.
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“Teams of forensic experts from India (six) are expected to arrive in Kathmandu today to help analyze DNA samples to identify the mortal remains. A specialized tunnel rescue survey technical team arrived in Kathmandu yesterday and has started work from today to help rescue the tunnel in the affected area. Based on their recommendation, a specialized tunnel rescue team from India is expected to arrive in Nepal today with equipment,” the statement says.
Death toll rises to 675 in Nepal; 554 missing in Tibet
Authorities in Nepal and China’s Tibet said nearly 3,000 people remained missing after the disaster, while 682 bodies had so far been recovered, according to Reuters. Nepal said 2,426 people are currently missing, including hundreds of foreign nationals. The number of deaths reported in the country also rose to 675 on Saturday.
Tibet, an autonomous region of China, remained largely off limits to foreign journalists, making it difficult to independently assess the extent of the devastation across the region, which is home to several villages. China’s state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday that 554 people were still missing in Tibet, with seven confirmed dead.
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Nepal Army rescue teams have been carrying out drilling operations in what they described as an “extremely demanding” effort to reach more than 100 people trapped in several hydroelectric tunnels.
The stranded workers were among 933 people reported missing from hydroelectric power plants along rivers hit by heavy flows of ice, rocks and debris. The Red Cross estimated that the disaster could affect up to 93,000 people in Nepal.
Nepal on Friday appealed for international financial assistance and sought specialized rescue equipment, including heavy drones, DNA testing kits and storage units to preserve bodies.
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Canada has so far pledged CAN 5 million ($3.6 million) in humanitarian aid, while the European Union has committed two million euros ($2.3 million).
Meanwhile, the Nepal Meteorological Department on Saturday predicted fresh rainfall and thundershowers in areas already affected by flash floods, raising fears that the weather could hamper ongoing rescue and relief efforts, PTI reported citing a media report.
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal told a news conference that authorities were closely monitoring the situation and that the country remained on “high alert”.
