Kathmandu, Aug. 29 -- In the aftermath of catastrophic flooding in the Bhotekoshi river, disaster management efforts in the severely affected Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts have lurched into a deep crisis.

Local governments-constitutionally mandated as the primary line of response during natural disasters-have themselves been overwhelmed and physically dismantled by the flooding, crippling rescue, relief, and data collection operations across the region.

In Gosaikunda Rural Municipality of Rasuwa, the vice-chair Pratima Tamang, two ward chairpersons and several employees are out of contact. According to chairman Kaisang Nurpu Tamang, seven members of his own family are also missing; the rural municipality office and two ward offices were ...