One disaster, two fronts: Security forces race against time
Summary
The Bhotekoshi River flash flood has forced Nepal’s security agencies to search for survivors while also recovering bodies across landslides, collapsed structures and changed river courses. Shortages of helicopters, ropes, thermal cameras and body bags have exposed major gaps in the country’s disaster-response capacity.
Key Points
- More than 20,000 security personnel from the Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been deployed in rescue and recovery operations after the Bhotekoshi flood.
- Teams rescued a six-year-old girl alive from debris in Timure, Rasuwa, but officials say shortages of equipment and air support are slowing operations.
- Police and APF units are using drones, sniffer dogs and body bags to recover and identify bodies along riverbanks and damaged areas.
- The disaster has highlighted Nepal’s weak disaster-response system despite trained personnel and support from India and China.
