Nepal flood toll hits 1,365 as President Paudel pushes faster rescue
President Ramchandra Paudel has asked the government to speed up rescue, relief and reconstruction after Nepal's deadly flash floods. His intervention underscores mounting concern over missing people, damaged infrastructure and climate-linked losses.
Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Wednesday asked the government to speed up rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction work as the death toll from the flash floods rose to 1,365. He said transport links must be restored quickly and relief for displaced people should be improved.
He also told the government to make search and rescue operations more effective, saying there was still a possibility of saving people affected by the disaster. According to Nepal Police, 5,326 people, including at least 589 foreign nationals, remain missing.
During an interaction with ministers at his residence at Sheetalniwas in Kathmandu, Paudel said Nepal should seek support from the international community for large infrastructure projects if they are beyond the country’s capacity, according to Nepali Congress lawmaker Arjun Narsingh K C. He also said Nepal should raise its voice at international forums to secure compensation for the loss and damage caused by climate change.
In separate meetings, Paudel asked Foreign Minister Sishir Khanal and Minister for Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal to speed up proper management of people staying in relief camps and the restoration of roads. He said short-term, mid-term and long-term plans should be prepared for reconstructing damaged infrastructure, while immediate steps must be taken to ease hardship. House of Representatives member Arjun Narsingh KC, elected from flood-hit Nuwakot district, and Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel were among those present.
The ministers told the President that work was continuing round the clock to arrange temporary settlements for displaced people. They said friendly countries had been asked to support the construction of long bailey bridges and the management of alternative roads, and that necessary materials were being received for reconstruction work.
The flash floods were triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26 and devastated towns and villages in northern and central Nepal. The Bhotekoshi River carried floodwaters downstream, sweeping away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges and damaging hydropower projects. As more bodies were recovered on Wednesday, the toll rose further, while search teams continued efforts to trace those still missing.
With PTI Inputs