In Brief:

• Five confirmed dead; Six rescued
• Six trapped inside tunnel in Rasuwa; 61 missing
• Families report loss of phone contact with relatives in disaster-hit areas
• Search and rescue operations continuing

MAKAWANPUR, AUGUST 30 Five people from Makawanpur have been confirmed dead and 61 others remain unaccounted for following the devastating floods and landslides in Rasuwa, according to the District Administration Office, Makawanpur. Six Makawanpur residents have been rescued from the disaster area, while another six are reported to be trapped inside a tunnel, the administration said. The deceased have been identified as Suman Gole and Ramesh Magar of Hetauda-15, Uddhav Khadka of Hetauda-5, Bikash Gole of Hetauda-12, and Ramesh Ale Magar, originally from Dhading and currently residing in Makwanpur. The six rescued are Sant Bahadur Syangtan, Dil Bahadur Syangbo, Bhimlal Pahari, Sagar Pahari, Abhishek Pahari and Tara Bahadur Rana Magar. Among the 61 people still missing, 23 are from Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, 19 from Thaha Municipality, five from Manahari Rural Municipality and three from Bhimphedi Rural Municipality. Another eight are from other local units, while the addresses of seven people have not yet been established. The missing include residents of different wards of Hetauda as well as people who had travelled to Rasuwa for work. According to the administration, some families have been unable to reach their relatives by phone, while the last known contact with others was from the disaster-hit area. Search and rescue efforts are continuing for those whose whereabouts remain unknown.