Nepali Army personnel during massive search & rescue ops.
Fourteen helicopters, including seven of the Nepali Army, have also been pressed into the operation and have so far airlifted 724 people including 101 foreign nationals. Similarly, 200 were rescued by land and 1,145 injured persons have received medical care at the emergency treatment centre. ” The Army spokesperson further told TOI that a critical rescue operation was underway at the Rasuwa tunnel where around 450 workers were initially trapped inside after the flash floods. “The exit point of the tunnel was completely blocked due to the mud slush brought by the flash flood. “The biggest challenge we are facing is visibility issues due to inclement weather and high altitude along with a massive mud slush at the riverbed which makes it difficult for personnel to mobilise on the ground.
DEHRADUN: Mud slush, poor visibility and the sheer inaccessibility of high-altitude terrain are the biggest challenges facing Nepal Army as it races against time to lead a massive search and rescue operation following flash floods in the Bhotekoshi river, with a critical operation underway to reach workers trapped inside the Rasuwa Hydropower Project tunnel, in which, “of the 450 workers, 350 have been evacuated and airlifted to safety while around 100 remain inside”. Speaking with TOI from the affected area of Rasuwa on Friday, Nepali Army spokesperson Brig Gen Rajaram Basnet said that “around 5,500 personnel are deployed on ground in the ongoing search and rescue operations (in the affected areas)”. Nepali Army personnel evacuating people from the flash-flood affected areas. Nepali Army personnel during massive search & rescue ops. Basnet added: “The personnel including officers are deployed across four affected districts: Rasuwa, Chitwan, Nuwakot and Dhading. The officer claimed that the forces are putting in all out efforts to save people from all the other affected areas but are facing challenges. The senior officer added: “Visibility issues in the narrow gorges are affecting helicopter sorties. Also, rainfall in the area makes operations more risky. But despite all these factors, we are determined and dedicated to the service of our nation with the continuation of the relief operations. Apart from the Army, Nepal Police and Nepal Armed Police Force are involved in the search and rescue operations. Nepal govt has so far refused to accept foreign agencies in the rescue operations citing several reasons including complexities in coordination. Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
Our personnel, who were air-dropped by a helicopter, managed to enter by crawling across the slush and were able to rescue four more men on Friday,” said Basnet.
