Kathmandu [Nepal], August 26 – At least 70 people have been confirmed dead following a massive flash flood in the Bhotekoshi river in Rasuwa on Wednesday, while 28 police personnel remain out of contact authorities said.
According to Nepal Police the recovered bodies include 27 women, 37 men, six girls, five boys and 20 unidentified people.
The highest number of bodies has been recovered in Chitwan with 33, followed by Gorkha with 16, Dhading with 18, Nuwakot with 11, Tanahun with five, Nawalparasi East with 11 and Rasuwa with one.
Meanwhile 63 people injured in the disaster have been rescued and are receiving treatment at hospitals in Kathmandu and affected districts.
Authorities have also intensified aerial rescue operations in Rasuwa. A total of 114 people have been airlifted and rescued from flash-flood-hit areas according to officials.
Nepali Army helicopters rescued 85 people while private-sector helicopters airlifted another 29 providing critical assistance to people stranded by the sudden flooding.
The 28 police personnel who remain out of contact are from Timure, Rasuwagadhi, Syafrubesi, Mailung, Betrabati and Haku.
The flash flood has caused extensive damage across riverside areas with authorities continuing search, rescue and relief operations.
Officials are working to locate missing personnel and assess the full scale of damage as emergency response efforts continue in the affected areas.
