Kathmandu. After the flood in Bhotekoshi river, search and rescue efforts are continuing for people trapped in the tunnels along the river's catchment area.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indian tunnel rescue team is currently working in Langtang and Chilime in coordination with the Nepali rescue team. Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri, spokesperson of the ministry informed that some work has been done in the direction of opening the tunnel, but as the inside of the tunnel is filled with mud and large stones, more work needs to be done.
"The Chinese tunnel rescue team has been mobilized in Upper Trishuli 3 'A' and they are working together with the Nepalese rescue team. They have already opened some part of the tunnel", he said in a press briefing held at the ministry today regarding the Bhotekoshi flood.
He informed that the Korean tunnel rescue team is working together with the Nepalese team to open the Upper Trishuli 1 tunnel. The ministry says that more support and logistics are expected from the Republic of Korea to speed up the search and rescue operations.
Likewise, the government has continued the work of DNA sample analysis by a 19-member Indian forensic team in collaboration with the Nepal Police. Spokesperson Chhetri said, "A five-member special forensic team from China arrived yesterday. Since then, Nepal Police has been participating in the work being done and working to speed up the processing and analysis of DNA samples."
In order to speed up this process, a six-member 'Disaster Victim Identification Team' has also arrived from Singapore, and another 13 members are coming today with DNA testing equipment, the ministry said. More members will join the team tomorrow with high-capacity drones and other logistics.
An additional Korean forensic team with the necessary equipment and tools has also recently joined the operation.
Similarly, security agencies, government agencies, medical and emergency response teams and other relevant agencies are working together in the affected areas. The integrated team of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force is continuing the search, rescue, relocation and relief work in the affected area and surrounding areas.
According to the latest information, 1,114 bodies have been found, and about 3,900 people are still missing. So far 11 thousand 993 people have been rescued. Spokesperson Chhetri informed that there are more than 300 foreign nationals and five of them are in contact and safe. Similarly, about 590 foreign nationals from 34 countries are still missing.
2,500 pilgrims returned
"Out of the estimated 3,000 people who were going to Mount Kailash and returning from there during the disaster, about 2,500 pilgrims, most of them have returned via Hilsa and Tatopani. The rest of the people have also been facilitated to return and some people are returning by air from Lhasa", he said.
The Ministry stated that about 1,500 Nepalese citizens are currently in Kerung and are coordinating with the Chinese side for those who want to return soon. Regarding 176 Nepali trucks and containers in Kerung, the ministry says that they are coordinating with the Chinese authorities to facilitate their movement by determining their re-route through appropriate border crossings. About 100 Nepali citizens went missing towards the Chinese border that day.
National News Committee is the official news organization of Nepal.
