RASUWA, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – In Nepal’s flood-affected Rasuwa district, the UAE Search and Rescue Team is actively engaged in on-the-ground operations. Their deployment aims to assist Nepalese authorities in locating victims and providing relief in regions ravaged by the August 26 Bhote Koshi River flood. Teams are conducting physical searches and field assessments at sites impacted by the disaster. They utilize drones for aerial photography, surveying, and creating three-dimensional maps, which aid in identifying search zones and accessing areas where floodwaters have compromised roads and infrastructure.
Currently, the UAE team collaborates closely with Nepalese officials to allocate search resources throughout Rasuwa. Hamoud Al Afari, the director of UAE relief operations, emphasized that the advanced technology supports efforts to find missing persons. The deployment came after initial evaluations of flood and landslide-damaged areas. In some locations, access remains difficult due to severely damaged roads and infrastructure. Consequently, teams are integrating ground operations with aerial imaging to thoroughly examine the affected zones and guide ongoing search activities.
On September 4, the UAE relief flight’s third sortie arrived in Nepal, bringing with it 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid. Officials confirmed that this flight increased total UAE relief supplies delivered to Nepal to 148 tonnes. The specialized search unit comprises personnel from Dubai Police and is equipped with technical gear for disaster response. The UAE Aid Agency has announced a $10 million aid package aimed at supporting communities impacted by the floods and landslides. Previous flights carried essentials such as food, shelter materials, generators, and other critical supplies.
Search efforts extend across flood-affected Rasuwa
As of the evening of September 6, Nepal’s District Administration Office in Rasuwa reported that 1,356 rescues had been carried out. This total includes 1,270 Nepali citizens and 86 foreigners. Additionally, authorities have used helicopters to evacuate 1,414 flood-affected individuals and stranded pilgrims to Nuwakot and Kathmandu. The district continues updating its records of people unaccounted for following the disaster, including local residents, security personnel, government employees, bank staff, and international tourists.
The same update noted that 169 bodies have been recovered from the impacted zones. Authorities have identified six of these victims and continue working to identify the remaining recovered bodies. Nepal Police has requested relatives of missing Nepali and foreign nationals to submit DNA samples for comparison with recovered remains, prioritizing samples from first-degree relatives where possible. Families abroad can also electronically submit DNA profiles for matching. The authorities maintain ongoing records of those still missing or out of contact.
Relief efforts persist alongside ongoing search operations
Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs reported that the Bhote Koshi flood struck Rasuwa around 8:40 a.m. on Aug. 26. The floodwaters also caused damage to riverbank areas in Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts. Following the disaster, the government initiated search, rescue, and emergency relief activities. Local authorities documented extensive damage to roads, bridges, homes, schools, banks, and hydropower facilities. Relief supplies have been distributed at multiple points while assessments of the physical and human toll continue.
The UAE team’s involvement in Rasuwa is part of a broader rescue and relief operation led by Nepalese authorities. Their current focus includes conducting site searches, aerial surveys, and detailed mapping to assist ground teams. UAE relief personnel are also distributing food parcels, essential items, and other supplies within affected communities. As teams work amid damaged infrastructure, local officials update records related to rescue, recovery, and missing persons, with the latest data under active revision as of September 7.