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Nepal Floods: Indian Rescue Efforts Expand Amid Rising Death Toll

Nepal Floods: Indian Rescue Efforts Expand Amid Rising Death Toll
Nepal floods: 149 Indians rescued amid evacuation efforts, MEA releases names · livemint.com

Heavy floods struck parts of Nepal near the Tibet border and along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers.

Many people were rescued, including Indian citizens.

Different updates reported 88, 108 and later 149 Indians rescued.

The number of Indians still missing was reported as 287 in one update and 275 in another.

Nepal’s reported death toll rose as rescuers found more bodies.

India sent food, medicine, generators and other emergency supplies.

India also sent doctors, forensic experts and tunnel-rescue workers.

Rescue teams are trying to reach people who may be trapped inside tunnels.

Flooding and large amounts of debris have made the work difficult.

Key facts

Indian nationals rescued
Reports listed 88 on August 29, 108 later on August 29, and 149 by 5:30 p.m. on August 30.
Indian nationals missing
The reports gave differing figures of 287 and 275.
Nepal death toll
The reported toll rose from 675 to 794 as more bodies were recovered.
Indian relief supplies
India reported airlifting 68.5 tonnes of supplies to Kathmandu, including medicines, food, generators and water-purification tablets.
Indian assistance
India deployed forensic experts, doctors and paramedics, a tunnel technical contingent and additional tunnel-rescue support.
Bridge support
Sixteen trucks carrying equipment for a 230-foot single-lane modular steel bridge reached Nepal; equipment for seven more Bailey bridges was planned.
Nepal rescue deployment
Nearly 20,000 security personnel were deployed, with ground teams conducting 8,730 rescues and helicopters evacuating 3,081 people.
Hydropower tunnel operations
Authorities were conducting rescue operations at five projects, including Upper Trishuli, where around 350 people were believed possibly trapped.

Quotes

Ministry of External Affairs

India’s foreign ministry, which provided updates on relief and rescue assistance in Nepal

“Ambassador Naveen Srivastava met members of the Indian Forensic Team deployed to Nepal. The team will work alongside their Nepali counterparts in analysing DNA samples to assist in identifying the mortal remains of the victims of the recent flash floods,”
livemint.com
“The team started working from today to assist in tunnel rescue in the impacted area. Based on their recommendation, a specialised tunnel rescue team from India with equipment is expected to reach Nepal today.”
theprint.in

Dharam Raj Uprety

Chief of Nepal’s national disaster management authority

“It's very tough because there's a lot of debris and we cannot blast things to make our way through,”
livemint.com

Sources

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