Kathmandu: A month has passed since the devastating flood in Nepal, which has resulted in over 5000 people missing and at least 1451 confirmed dead. At the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, a wall where families and relatives of the missing had left notes is now fading with time.
Current Status of the Missing and Victims
According to the latest statistics from relevant authorities, 5285 people are still missing following the flood on August 26 in the Butkushi area. To date, 1451 bodies have been found, and two people have died while receiving treatment. A total of 13795 people have been rescued so far, with 1113 of them taking refuge in 21 shelters.
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Additionally, DNA samples have been collected from 2060 individuals. Seven of the flood victims are receiving treatment, and 10988 people have benefited from health services through security agencies. Search and rescue efforts continue in the affected areas, as the widespread devastation caused by the flood has directly impacted over 70000 people, leaving them homeless.
Devastating Consequences of the Flood and the Need for Reconstruction
Settlements located on high slopes near Tibet have been severely affected and completely destroyed. Main neighborhoods such as Timure and Siyafro have been entirely wiped out by the flood. It is estimated that around 5 billion dollars will be needed for infrastructure reconstruction, which will take at least a decade.
In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Nepal's Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, stated: "After confirming at least 1400 deaths and over 6000 missing, our rapid assessments estimate the physical reconstruction needs to be about 10 percent of the GDP. Like the reconstruction after past disasters such as the Gorkha earthquake in 2015, we count on your support and solidarity."
The flood affected riverside settlements in the Rasuwagadi area on the morning of August 26 (10 Bhadra 2083) and quickly impacted neighboring areas including Nuwakot and Zhidin. Government forces had a strong response in the early hours of the incident, deploying over 13000 personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force. Helicopter flights prioritized severely injured individuals, pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The infrastructural damages reveal the scale of this incident. Eight hydropower projects (281 megawatts) and four under-construction projects (388 megawatts) have been affected, disrupting 431.1 megawatts of energy production capacity. Major sections of the Galchi-Betrawati-Rasuwagadi road and the Prithvi Highway have been destroyed or severely damaged, and 48 suspension bridges and 31 motorable bridges have also been destroyed.
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