Key Takeaways:
- 11,993 rescued, 4,216 missing; death toll rises to 1,204
- 21,314 personnel deployed: 9,199 Army, 7,912 Police, 4,203 Armed Police
- Missing include 86 security/government staff, 583 foreigners, 164 Nepalis with tourists
- Nepal Army conducted 690 aerial flights, including 80 on Wednesday; private operators added 29
Nearly 12,000 people have been rescued following the devastating Bhotekoshi floods, but 4,216 remain unaccounted for, keeping search operations at the centre of the disaster response.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 11,993 people had been rescued by Wednesday evening, while the death toll had climbed to 1,204.
The authority said search and rescue operations were being intensified across affected areas, with 21,314 personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force deployed. Of those, 9,199 are from the Army, 7,912 from Police and 4,203 from the Armed Police Force. Security personnel are searching riverbanks, flood-hit settlements, roads and landslide-affected areas, though damaged infrastructure has made access difficult.
Casualties by district
NDRRMA spokesperson Shanti Mahat said 1,204 bodies have so far been recovered. Chitwan recorded the highest number at 348, followed by Nawalparasi East (217), Nawalparasi West (202), Nuwakot (155), Rasuwa (115), Gorkha (69), Dhading (60) and Tanahun (38).
Thousands still unaccounted for
The missing include 86 security personnel and government employees, 45 from the Army, 25 from Police, 13 from the Armed Police Force, 14 from customs offices and three from immigration offices. Around 865 people from Rasuwa and 1,558 from Nuwakot are also listed as missing. The list includes 583 foreign nationals and 164 Nepalis accompanying tourists.
Others missing include 900 hydropower project workers, three from Langtang National Park, three from a quarantine office, seven elected representatives, 32 local-level employees and one private-school employee.
Aerial operations prioritised
The Nepal Army has given priority to aerial rescue, having airlifted 4,091 Nepalis and 273 foreign nationals. It has conducted 690 aerial flights, including 80 on Wednesday alone. Private-sector operators have supported the response with 29 flights, mainly delivering relief supplies and rescuing people from areas cut off by damaged roads.
The government continues to send food, non-food items, medicines and health supplies to affected areas as search and rescue operations intensify. NDRRMA said the large number of people still unaccounted for has made intensified search operations a priority across the affected districts.