Banking News – The international community, including neighboring India and China, has been providing support to Nepal for rescue and relief operations in the areas affected by the Bhote Koshi flood. Following the massive loss of life and property caused by the flood, India and China have been supplying relief materials, tunnel rescue teams, and technical personnel from the very beginning, while various international organizations have committed financial and technical assistance.

The flood has caused extensive damage to residential areas, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure in downstream areas. Various state agencies, including the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force, are mobilized in the affected areas for rescue and relief efforts.

According to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, a fourth-phase flight carrying 11 tons of relief materials from India landed in Kathmandu this morning. The relief materials include a tunnel rescue technical team with equipment required for search and rescue operations, a team of forensic experts for DNA analysis, along with blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, plastic sheets, and sanitation kits.

Based on the assessment of an on-site inspection team, a 13-member Indian Army tunnel rescue team with specialized equipment has arrived in Nepal. The team will assist in search and rescue operations being conducted by Nepali disaster response teams. A 19-member team from six forensic teams has also arrived in Nepal to assist in DNA sample analysis for identification of remains, the embassy stated.

Prior to this, India had transported approximately 57.5 tons of relief materials to Nepal via Indian Air Force aircraft by Saturday. On Wednesday itself, an Indian Air Force aircraft had brought 10 tons of emergency relief materials including temporary shelters, blankets, sanitation kits, solar lights, and medicines. On Thursday, the Government of India sent 37.5 tons of relief materials including tarpaulins, blankets, sanitation kits, solar lights, water pumps, kitchen supplies, generator sets, medicines, and food supplies.

On Friday, India sent a five-member Indian Army tunnel rescue preliminary inspection team and a six-member medical team, along with an additional 10 tons of materials including portable generator sets, dignity kits, food supplies, water purification tablets, and medicines.

This morning, two transport aircraft of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force of China arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport carrying emergency relief materials provided by China. Four Chinese tunnel rescue specialists arrived on the aircraft with rescue equipment. Both transport aircraft flew from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in China. After approximately three hours of flight, the aircraft arrived in Kathmandu carrying 50 tons of materials, including 13,200 units of emergency relief items such as tarpaulins, blankets, sleeping bags, hardtack, and first aid kits.

The tunnel rescue teams from India and China have been deployed in the Bhote Koshi flood-affected areas to rescue individuals trapped in tunnels. While several people are still trapped in tunnels of some hydropower projects in the affected areas and Nepali security forces continue rescue operations, the tunnel rescue teams from both neighboring countries arrived in Nepal on Saturday.

According to latest information, 7,514 individuals have been rescued from affected areas and transported to safe locations by air and land routes as of Saturday evening. Among them, 279 individuals trapped in various hydropower project areas have been rescued, while the Nepali Army continues rescue efforts in remaining areas. Indian and Chinese experts are working in coordination with the Nepali Army in rescue operations.

A total of 18,708 security personnel from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force Nepal are deployed in the affected areas. Commitments of financial and technical assistance have also come from the international community for management and rehabilitation of the affected. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed $5 million USD in budgetary support (grant), the World Bank has committed $167 million USD in concessional loans, the US Government has committed $500,000 USD, and the Australian Government has committed $1 million USD in cash assistance. ADB has also committed $150,000 USD for technical assistance.

So far, 675 bodies have been recovered from various locations in Rasuwa, Dhading, Nuwakot, Chitwan, Tanahun, Gorkha, Nawalparasi East, and Nawalparasi West. The recovered bodies are being managed by placing them in airtight bags. Body management is being carried out according to the “Directive on Identification and Management of Unidentified Bodies (First Amendment), 2083.” The government is preparing to manage bodies found in an unidentifiable condition by securely preserving evidence to assist in identification, including DNA analysis. Bodies identified by families are being handed over to the respective families.