PM Shah: Government Stands with Flood Victims, Rescue and Rehabilitation Efforts to Continue Until Results Are Achieved

Kathmandu / Aug. 29, 2026: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said the Government of Nepal stands firmly with citizens affected by the recent floods and that rescue and rehabilitation operations will continue until tangible results are achieved.

In a statement shared on social media on Saturday, Prime Minister Shah said the government remains deeply concerned about the extensive loss of lives, property and infrastructure caused by the devastating floods in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and other areas along the river corridors.

He said the government intensified search, rescue and relief operations immediately after the floods, working around the clock and leaving no effort spared to assist affected communities.

“Through continuous coordination, cooperation and facilitation with elected representatives and officials at the federal, provincial and local levels, these efforts are being carried out with full capacity. I would like to reiterate that protecting the lives of every affected citizen through all state mechanisms remains the government’s foremost priority,” Shah said.

According to the Prime Minister, despite adverse weather and difficult geographical conditions, 7,514 people had been successfully rescued by 5:30 pm on Saturday through air and land operations and taken to safer locations.

Of those rescued, 279 people stranded at various hydropower project sites have been evacuated, while the Nepali Army continues rescue operations in other affected areas. Indian and Chinese experts are also assisting the Nepali Army in the rescue effort.

A total of 236 rescue flights have been conducted so far using 16 helicopters operated by the Nepali Army and private sector. Meanwhile, 18,708 security personnel from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been deployed in the affected areas.

Shah said the number of security personnel deployed in disaster-hit areas is being increased daily in response to suggestions and complaints received from the ground, while additional helicopters have been kept on standby. However, difficult terrain and unfavorable weather have limited the number of flights that can operate simultaneously.

The government has also decided to increase daily food allowances and incentive payments for security personnel risking their lives in rescue operations. International assistance is also being sought where necessary, he said.

The Prime Minister said critically injured people rescued from affected areas are being transported to hospitals in Kathmandu for treatment.

For other injured people, mobile hospitals have been established at the Nepali Army barracks in Dhunche, Rasuwa, and Battar, Nuwakot, where medical teams from Kathmandu, including specialists, are providing continuous treatment.

Additional medical teams from Kathmandu are providing health services from five locations—Dhunche, Syafrubesi, Rasuwa Hospital and two helicopter landing areas.

Psychosocial counselling is also being provided to injured people and their family members.

To ensure easy access to blood supplies, the government has launched a “Blood Information Portal” that provides publicly accessible information on the availability of blood at different hospitals.

Health services have already resumed in affected areas, while injured citizens receiving treatment at various hospitals are gradually recovering and returning home.

According to Shah, 675 bodies have so far been recovered from different locations in Rasuwa, Dhading, Nuwakot, Chitwan, Tanahun, Gorkha, Nawalparasi East and Nawalparasi West.

The recovered bodies are being preserved in airtight bags and managed in accordance with the “Unidentified and Unclaimed Bodies Management (First Amendment) Directive, 2083.”

Shah said the government will manage only those bodies that cannot be identified, while preserving DNA and other evidence that may assist future identification. Bodies identified by family members are being handed over to their relatives.

For affected citizens who were not rescued or hospitalized, three relief camps have been established in Rasuwa and 15 in Nuwakot in coordination with district administration offices and local governments. The federal government is continuously supplying relief materials to these camps.

The Nepal Red Cross Society, Nepal Scouts, Lions Clubs and other volunteer organizations have also been mobilized. Temporary accommodation has been arranged in schools and public and community buildings for approximately 3,500 people displaced by the floods.

The government is also working to ensure adequate supplies of food and other essential daily necessities for affected communities.

Relief materials are being collected at the warehouse of Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu District Administration Office, the Nepal Police Disaster Training Centre in Samakhusi and the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction premises in Babarmahal.

These supplies are being transported by air and road to the Maithil Barracks of the Nepali Army in Battar, Nuwakot, and Uttargaya in Rasuwa. From the Maithil Barracks, relief supplies are also being transported to the Baireni Police Office in Dhading and the Brabel Barracks of the Nepali Army in Dhunche, Rasuwa.

A committee coordinated by the Assistant Chief District Officer, with security personnel and other stakeholders, is distributing the collected relief supplies in affected areas.

On Saturday, food supplies were transported from Tribhuvan International Airport to Dhunche, Rasuwa, by an MI-17 helicopter. Essential food and non-food relief and rescue materials were also sent by road to Dhunche and Uttargaya Rural Municipality.

Various organizations and support agencies are continuing to send relief materials directly to designated contact points at the concerned district administration offices.

Flooding disrupted telecommunications services in the affected areas. Of the 120 Nepal Telecom and 78 Ncell BTS towers operating in the region, services at 38 Nepal Telecom and 27 Ncell towers were disrupted.

While some towers sustained major physical damage, others were affected by power shortages. The government transported fuel, solar panels and generators by helicopter and road to restore services.

So far, 90 Nepal Telecom and 71 Ncell towers have resumed operations, while repair work is continuing to restore the remaining towers.

Road connectivity has also been progressively restored. The road from Kathmandu–Tokha–Chhahare–Gadkhar Bridge–Aapre–Narja–Lachyang–Sarmathali–Patikharka–Bogatitaar–Kalikastan–Dhunche has been repaired to allow small four-wheeled vehicles to operate.

With the reopening of this route, Rasuwa has been reconnected to the national road network.

Similarly, the Galchhi–Malekhu section of the Prithvi Highway has been fully reopened after approximately 13 kilometres of accumulated mud were cleared. An alternative road to Dhadingbesi has also come into operation.

The route connecting Parewatār–Nepaltar–Gajuritar–Pipaltar–Adamtar–Belinitar–Keurinitar–Mastar has also been reopened, reconnecting Dhadingbesi to the road network.

Prime Minister Shah said the government remains fully focused on the affected citizens and will continue rescue, relief, treatment and rehabilitation efforts until meaningful results are achieved. RSS