Kathmandu, Sept. 3 -- Nepal Prime Minister Balendra 'Balen' Shah has thanked India, China and the United States for providing timely assistance following the devastating flash floods in the country. Addressing the Nepali Parliament, Shah said emergency teams and relief supplies from neighbouring countries and others had helped Nepal respond to the destruction caused by the floods, which swept away villages, roads and power infrastructure across at least three districts.
The death toll had risen to 1,204 by Wednesday evening, while more than 4,200 people remained unaccounted for, including 275 Indian pilgrims and tourists. Shah said 11,993 people had so far been rescued, while contact could not be established with at least 3,916 people. India and China were among the first countries to send relief supplies and specialised assistance. Since August 26, India has sent at least five consignments containing blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, hygiene kits, medicines, food packets, solar lamps, water purification tablets and portable generators.
The Indian Air Force has also carried out multiple sorties to transport emergency supplies, while specialised rescue teams have been deployed to assist Nepali authorities around hydropower tunnels and with forensic work related to the identification and handling of bodies and missing people.
China has continued rescue and recovery operations on the Tibet side of the border and has reopened the road leading to the Gyirong border crossing into Nepal after sections were washed away by the floods. This has allowed heavy machinery to reach the main disaster-hit area. Shah's remarks came as Nepal seeks greater international financial assistance following the disaster. The government has also said it wants climate-linked compensation from major emitters for the impact of natural disasters.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.