India, Aug. 28 -- Nepal has declined offers from India, China and several other countries to send helicopters and specialised search-and-rescue teams following the devastating Bhote Koshi floods, choosing instead to keep the operation under the control of its own security agencies.

The decision has drawn attention because hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, including foreign nationals travelling in Nepal.

Kathmandu, however, has distinguished between accepting humanitarian assistance and allowing foreign personnel to take part directly in search-and-rescue operations.

The government led by Prime Minister Balen Shah has maintained that Nepal's security agencies have sufficient capacity to conduct the rescue effort.

It has also e...