Air Rescue Operations Begin in Flood-Hit Rasuwa

Air rescue operations have begun in Rasuwa from early Thursday morning to evacuate citizens injured or stranded following flooding in the Bhote Koshi River. Three air rescue teams have been mobilized since early morning to support the evacuation effort. Helicopters have been deployed to rescue workers and other citizens, including those working at the Trishuli 3 ‘A’ and Trishuli 3 ‘B’ hydropower projects. A team equipped with medical personnel, security staff, communication sets, and generators has also been mobilized toward Dhunche to support rescue and emergency response operations. Earlier Thursday morning, a high-level meeting was held at the Nepal Army’s No. 1 Military Training Centre in Trishuli, Nuwakot. The meeting, attended by the Bagmati Province Chief Minister, Information and Communications Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina, the provincial Minister for Economic Affairs, and Rasuwa Chief District Officer Shambhu Prasad Regmi, among others, decided to give top priority to rescue operations. Reports continue to come in that people remain stranded in flood-affected areas and require immediate evacuation. Three people who had been stranded inside a tunnel of the Trishuli 3 ‘A’ Hydropower Project were rescued and brought to the No. 1 Military Training Centre in Nuwakot. The meeting also directed authorities to strengthen relief distribution and restore disrupted telecommunications services in the affected areas. Information and Communications Minister Dr. Timilsina instructed officials to make communications services operational as soon as possible. Chief District Officer Regmi said that relief distribution would be prioritized alongside the ongoing rescue operations as authorities work to assist those affected by the flooding.