Nepal has resumed search and rescue operations after a weather-related pause, while seeking specialist foreign assistance for tunnel rescues, DNA identification and damaged transport links. The government estimates reconstruction could cost $4 billion to $5 billion.
KATHMANDU, Nepal — Nepal resumed search and rescue operations on Saturday as authorities continued looking for nearly 3,000 missing people after a devastating flood killed at least 669 people in Nepal and seven in China’s Tibet. The disaster has also damaged buildings, bridges and power stations, prompting Kathmandu to seek specialised international technical assistance.
Key Highlights
- Nepal resumed search and rescue operations after rain and fog temporarily halted work.
- Nearly 3,000 people remain missing across Nepal and Tibet, including foreign nationals.
- Nepal has requested specialist assistance for tunnel rescues, DNA testing, body identification and restoring damaged transport and communication links.
- Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle estimated that rebuilding could cost between $4 billion and $5 billion.
- India has sent three flights carrying 60 tons of relief supplies and offered disaster-response personnel, prefabricated bridges and technical teams.
- China has also sent tunnel experts to support rescue operations.
Nepal resumes flood rescue operations
Search and rescue work was temporarily suspended because of rain and fog before resuming later on Saturday. A police officer in the badly affected Rasuwa district said helicopters had returned to the operation after weather conditions improved.
Rescue work had also been suspended on Friday after a lake formed across the Nepal-China border and began overflowing into the Lhende Khola and Trishuli rivers. By Saturday, Chinese authorities and state broadcaster CCTV reported that the immediate risk had eased and parts of the lake bed had become visible.
Satellite images indicated that water was gradually draining from the lake and its size was decreasing. However, an official warned that flood risks would continue until both upstream lakes being monitored by Nepal had fully drained.
Nearly 3,000 people remain missing
Authorities said nearly 3,000 people remained missing following the disaster, including about 2,426 people in Nepal and 554 in Tibet’s Gyirong County. At least 540 foreign nationals were among those missing, with many reported to be Hindu pilgrims from India.
Families have been searching for information about missing relatives. In Kathmandu, relatives gathered outside Maharajgunj Medical Campus, where some recovered bodies had been taken, while authorities worked on identification.
Authorities in some districts said unidentified bodies would be buried after required legal procedures. DNA samples will be collected as part of efforts to establish identities.
Nepal seeks specialist foreign technical assistance
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the country was seeking specialist support rather than general search and rescue assistance. The requested expertise includes rescuing people trapped in tunnels, restoring transport and communication links, identifying bodies, conducting DNA testing and providing facilities to store bodies for longer periods.
Khanal said Nepal had already made requests for specialised services and technical assistance in areas where the country lacked sufficient expertise and technical know-how.
A team of Indian tunnel experts arrived in Nepal on Saturday. China’s Xinhua news agency also reported that Beijing had dispatched five tunnel experts, with four more expected to join them.
India sends relief supplies and technical support
India has already sent three flights carrying 60 tons of relief supplies, including blankets, medicines and food. The country has also offered disaster-response personnel, prefabricated bridges and technical teams to help restore connectivity damaged by the floods.
China is separately conducting search operations for more than 500 people still missing after the disaster. Rescuers reached the badly affected Gyirong border crossing complex on Friday using ropes after roads leading to the site were destroyed.
Nepal estimates rebuilding cost at up to $5 billion
The immediate rescue effort is being accompanied by preparations for a major rebuilding operation. Nepal’s Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle told Reuters that the government’s initial estimate placed reconstruction costs between $4 billion and $5 billion.
“This is just an estimate. Loss and damage is being assessed,”
The estimate comes as survivors begin dealing with the destruction of homes and infrastructure caused by the floods.
Families await information as rescue efforts continue
Families in Nepal and other countries continue to wait for information about missing people. In Malaysia, relatives of 91 citizens listed as uncontactable across Nepal and Tibet were seeking updates. A representative for some of the families called for a communication channel to provide faster information.
Search and rescue teams continued working in difficult conditions as authorities sought to locate missing people, identify recovered bodies and restore damaged transport and communication infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Nepal seek technical assistance after the floods?
Nepal sought specialist assistance for tunnel rescues, restoring transport and communication links, identifying bodies, conducting DNA testing and storing bodies for longer periods.
How much could Nepal’s flood reconstruction cost?
Nepal’s Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle said the government’s initial estimate for rebuilding was between $4 billion and $5 billion, while noting that loss and damage was still being assessed.
Did Nepal resume flood rescue operations?
Yes. Search and rescue operations resumed on Saturday after rain and fog temporarily halted work, with helicopters returning after weather conditions improved.
What assistance has India provided to Nepal after the floods?
India has sent three flights carrying 60 tons of relief supplies, including blankets, medicines and food, and has offered disaster-response personnel, prefabricated bridges and technical teams.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Editor at The Nation Bulletin. With over 3 years of experience in digital journalism and news reporting, he covers national affairs, governance, and breaking current events with a commitment to factual accuracy and verified reporting.
