Washed Away
Nepali rescue teams battled difficult terrain, an unpredictable river and treacherous marshland on Monday, the sixth day in their search for survivors and victims of devastating floods. The catastrophic flooding has killed more than 900 people, while the number unaccounted for has risen to more than 4'793.
"There are too many challenges," said E. Hawadi, a police officer coordinating rescue efforts in the badly affected Nuwakot district. "There are no roads, they have all been washed away, and many areas are just not accessible." Floodwaters remained high in some areas. Elsewhere, the ground had turned into slushy mud, slowing movement and complicating operations. "It is very difficult for my men. The area is still flooded, and elsewhere it is all marshland."
Deep and steep
The difficult conditions in Nepal's remote settlements have forced rescuers to depend heavily on helicopters, often the only viable means of reaching stranded communities. "Once my men are dropped, they have to roam over large distances to conduct search and rescue," Hawadi said. "But the helicopters have to return because there are not enough of them."
Foreign ministry spokesman Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri, appealing for international support, said the mountain geography was adding to the challenge. "This is the Himalayas. We have to be very careful when starting any rescue operation or relief operation. The gorges are very deep and steep, so that's the difficulty."
93,000 affected
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent estimated that around 93'000 people may have been affected by the floods, and that many homes have been destroyed or severely damaged. More than 40 bridges have been damaged or destroyed. India and China are sending prefabricated Bailey bridges that can be assembled quickly without heavy equipment. The UN World Food Programme is shipping in 2.4 tonnes of high-energy biscuits for families with nowhere to cook.
Unidentified bodies are being buried in mass graves after DNA sampling. Entire communities have been swept away, leaving families homeless in heavy rain or sheltering in temporary facilities.