RASUWA, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – In Nepal’s flood-affected Rasuwa district, the UAE Search and Rescue Team is actively engaged in field operations. The deployment aims to assist Nepalese authorities in locating and aiding victims in areas impacted by the flood caused by the Bhote Koshi River on August 26. Their efforts include ground searches and on-site surveys, complemented by drone technology for aerial imaging, mapping, and three-dimensional reconstructions. This advanced equipment allows rescue teams to pinpoint search zones and access regions where flood damage has hampered transportation and infrastructure.
Collaborating closely with Nepalese officials, the UAE team directs resource allocation for searches across Rasuwa. Hamoud Al Afari, the director of UAE relief operations, highlighted that the technological tools available are crucial in finding missing persons. The deployment was initiated after assessments of flood and landslide damage, which revealed significant access challenges in various locations due to extensive damage to roads and essential infrastructure. Combining ground operations with aerial reconnaissance, crews continue to evaluate the affected zones and steer search activities effectively.
Arriving in Nepal on the third UAE relief flight on Sept. 4, the specialized search team was accompanied by 20 tonnes of aid supplies. According to officials, this flight increased the total UAE aid delivered to Nepal to 148 tonnes. The team, comprising personnel from Dubai Police and equipped with technical disaster response gear, is part of the larger relief effort supported by the UAE Aid Agency, which is providing a $10 million assistance package for communities impacted by the floods and landslides. Previous flights delivered essential supplies including food, shelter materials, generators, and other necessities.
Search Operations Expand Across Flood-Affected Rasuwa
By the evening of September 6, Nepal’s District Administration Office in Rasuwa reported 1,356 rescues. This total includes 1,270 Nepali citizens and 86 foreign nationals. Helicopters have been used to evacuate 1,414 flood-affected individuals and stranded pilgrims to Nuwakot and Kathmandu. The district continues to update its records on individuals reported missing or unreachable following the disaster, including local residents, security personnel, government workers, bank employees, and tourists from abroad.
The district’s latest figures also document the recovery of 169 bodies from affected zones. While six of these have been identified, efforts are ongoing to determine the identities of the remaining recovered bodies. Nepal Police has urged relatives of both Nepali and foreign nationals missing since the floods to submit DNA profiles for comparison with recovered remains, prioritizing samples from immediate family members when possible. Families residing outside Nepal can send DNA data electronically for matching. Authorities continue to maintain and update detailed lists of missing persons and those unaccounted for.
Rescue and Relief Operations Persist Simultaneously
Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs reported that the Bhote Koshi flood struck Rasuwa around 8:40 a.m. on Aug. 26. Floodwaters also caused damage along riverbanks in districts such as Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha. Following the disaster, the government launched search, rescue, and emergency relief efforts. Local authorities documented extensive damage to roads, bridges, homes, schools, banks, and hydropower facilities. Relief distribution has been ongoing at various locations alongside continued assessments of physical damage and human losses.
The UAE team’s activities in Rasuwa are part of the larger search and relief campaign led by Nepalese authorities. Their current focus includes conducting aerial surveys, detailed mapping, and site-specific searches to support ground teams. In addition to search efforts, UAE relief personnel are distributing food packages, vital supplies, and other aid in affected zones. While continuing rescue operations in damaged areas, local officials are updating records related to missing persons, recovery, and rescue activities, with the latest figures under active revision as of Sept. 7.