Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Nepal government has reversed its decision to keep international search-and-rescue teams out of the Bhotekoshi flash flood-hit areas, following diplomatic pressure from countries whose nationals remain missing after the disaster.
The government had said on Wednesday that Nepali rescuers were capable of handling the search operations and that foreign rescue teams would not be allowed.
However, within a day, authorities decided to seek limited international assistance in specialised areas, including tunnel rescues, DNA testing and forensic examinations.
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“We received massive pressure from the international community to allow at least search-and-rescue teams and some experts because their citizens have also gone missing in the floods,” a senior government official told The Kathmandu Post. “We are allowing a limited number of experts in certain areas.”
MORE THAN 550 KILLED, ALMOST 2000 REMAIN MISSING
The flash floods devastated settlements along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, killing more than 550 people as of Friday. Another 1,924 people remain missing, as per a report by Nepal Disaster Authority .
Indian nationals account for the highest number of missing foreigners at 288, followed by 100 Chinese, 65 Americans, 53 Ukrainians, 35 Australians and 33 British nationals, according to the latest Nepal Tourism Board records.
Based on an assessment by the National Disaster Management Centre of Nepal, an inter-ministerial coordination committee has approved assistance from India, China, Australia and South Korea. Experts and technicians from the four countries will assist with tunnel rescue operations, DNA testing and forensic examinations.
Several other countries that have offered relief assistance have also expressed a willingness to send specialist teams. However, Nepal has not accepted all such requests.
Officials from at least two foreign embassies in Kathmandu said they had repeatedly asked to send teams to help locate their missing nationals but had received no positive response.
576 UNACCOUNTED FOR AT UPPER TRISHULI-1
The situation remains particularly critical at Upper Trishuli-1, a 216 MW run-of-river hydropower project, where 576 workers are still unaccounted for until Friday late night. Around 1,350 people were working at the project when the disaster struck.
“576 people are uncontactable. There is no clear information about where they are. If some are trapped inside the tunnels and can be reached in time, there is a possibility of saving them,” said Uttam Bhlom, Senior Vice-President, Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN).
Rescue teams have faced difficulties reaching several hydropower sites as floods and landslides have damaged roads and disrupted mobile and telephone networks. The communication blackout has further complicated efforts to determine the whereabouts and condition of those still missing.
Authorities are also considering using private helicopters to access the affected sites. However, limited landing space and technical and safety challenges have made aerial rescue operations difficult.
INDIA OFFERS HELP, LAUNCHES RESCUE OPERATION
India has publicly offered a tunnel rescue team, a medical team and personnel from its National Disaster Response Force, according to Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also spoke to his Nepali counterpart Shisir Khanal on Friday and said New Delhi had offered a range of support.
Jaishankar also mentioned that a third flight carrying 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance had departed for Kathmandu. The consignment included portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets and water purification tablets.
An 11-member team of doctors, paramedics and tunnel rescue specialists was also sent along with India’s fourth tranche of relief material to Nepal.
SOUTH KOREA, OTHERS JOIN IN
South Korea has similarly offered assistance after nine of its nationals went out of contact.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said he had asked Kathmandu to ensure that a Korean Prompt Response Team could conduct search-and-rescue operations smoothly and said Seoul was preparing to deploy its Korea Disaster Relief Team.
The foreign teams will focus on hydropower tunnels in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, where 14 projects have been affected.
Nepal will also receive foreign assistance for DNA testing, as its laboratories have limited capacity. Khanal said the experts would help process a large number of samples and identify bodies quickly so they can be handed over to their families.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
