Key Takeaways:
- 3,596 people evacuated by air, including 252 foreign nationals
- Govt says helicopters overstretched; urges non-emergency evacuees to use roads
- Alternative routes reopened linking Dhading to Prithvi Highway and Vidur to Rasuwa
- Helicopters prioritized for search, rescue and relief transport in hardest-hit districts
With 3,596 people already airlifted from flood-hit areas, the government has urged non-emergency evacuees to use alternative road routes and leave helicopters for urgent rescue and relief operations.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said 252 foreign nationals and 3,344 Nepalis had so far been evacuated by air from the worst-affected districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Tanahun.
In a notice issued Monday, the authority said helicopter resources were being stretched by requests from people who were only lightly affected, unaffected or already safe in higher areas. With alternative road routes gradually reopening, it urged those not requiring emergency evacuation to use the available roads.
One route linking Dhading with the Prithvi Highway is now operational via Dhadingbesi, Parewatar, Nepaltar, Gajuritar, Pipaltar, Adamtar, Belinitar and Keurinitar to Mastar near Hamplet Restaurant.
A separate route to Rasuwa for four-wheeled light vehicles has also been opened, running from Vidur through Dhikure, Chaughada, Aap, Narja, Lachyad, Sarmathale and Patikharka to Bogtitar on the Pasang Lhamu Highway, before connecting towards Kalikasthan and Dhunche.
The authority identified several wards in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Tanahun as severely affected, including Uttargaya, Gosainkunda, Aamachhodingmo and Kalika in Rasuwa, and Tarakeshwar, Kispang, Bidur and Belkotgadhi in Nuwakot.
The notice called on all concerned to help ensure that limited emergency resources are used only for essential operations during the disaster.