RASUWA, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – UAE Search and Rescue teams are actively engaged in field missions within Nepal’s heavily flooded Rasuwa district. This deployment aims to assist Nepalese authorities in their efforts to locate victims and provide aid in regions affected by the flood that occurred on August 26 along the Bhote Koshi River. Teams are performing ground searches and conducting on-site surveys at locations impacted by the disaster. They utilize drone technology for aerial imaging, surveying, and creating three-dimensional maps, which enable responders to pinpoint search zones and access areas where floodwaters have severely disrupted transportation and infrastructure.
The UAE rescue team collaborates closely with Nepalese officials to coordinate search operations across Rasuwa. Hamoud Al Afari, director of UAE relief operations, emphasized that advanced technological tools are crucial in locating missing persons. This field deployment was preceded by evaluations of flood- and landslide-affected zones. Due to extensive damage to roads and essential infrastructure, access remains a challenge for search crews. Consequently, they continue to blend on-ground efforts with aerial reconnaissance to assess damage and steer rescue activities effectively.
The rescue unit arrived in Nepal on the third UAE relief flight on Sept. 4, bringing with it 20 tonnes of aid supplies. The total relief deliveries from the UAE to Nepal now reach 148 tonnes. The specialized team includes personnel from Dubai Police, equipped with technical tools for disaster response. The UAE Aid Agency oversees a $10 million aid package directed at communities impacted by the floods and landslides. Previous flights carried essential items such as food, shelter materials, generators, and other critical supplies.
Rescue activities expand throughout flood-affected Rasuwa
Nepal’s District Administration Office in Rasuwa reported rescuing 1,356 individuals by the evening of Sept. 6, including 1,270 Nepali citizens and 86 foreigners. Authorities also confirmed that helicopters have transported 1,414 flood-affected people and stranded pilgrims to Nuwakot and Kathmandu. The district continues to update records of those unaccounted for after the disaster, including local residents, security personnel, government employees, bank staff, and international tourists.
A district update also indicated that 169 bodies have been recovered from the affected areas, with six identified so far. Identification efforts are ongoing for the remaining recovered remains. Nepal Police have requested relatives of missing Nepali and foreign nationals to submit DNA profiles for comparison with recovered bodies, prioritizing samples from immediate family members. Families abroad can electronically send DNA data for matching. Authorities are maintaining an updated registry of missing persons and individuals uncontactable since the disaster.
Relief efforts continue alongside ongoing search operations
Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs reported that the Bhote Koshi flood impacted Rasuwa at approximately 8:40 a.m. on Aug. 26. Floodwaters also caused damage in riverbank areas of Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts. Following the catastrophe, the government launched rescue, relief, and emergency response efforts. Damage assessments have documented destruction of roads, bridges, homes, schools, banks, and hydroelectric facilities. Relief supplies are being distributed across multiple sites as authorities continue to evaluate the scope of physical and human losses.
The UAE team’s operations in Rasuwa are part of Nepal’s broader rescue and relief campaign, led by local authorities. Their current focus includes mapping search zones, conducting aerial surveys, and creating detailed maps for ground crews. Additionally, UAE relief personnel are distributing food parcels, essential items, and other supplies throughout the affected areas. As rescue teams work in damaged locations, local officials update records related to rescue, recovery, and missing persons. Active record revision was ongoing as of Sept. 7, maintaining current data on displaced and unaccounted individuals.