RASUWA, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – The UAE Search and Rescue Team is actively engaged in field missions within Nepal’s flood-affected Rasuwa district. This deployment aims to assist Nepalese authorities in their ongoing efforts to locate and support victims following the devastating flood caused by the Bhote Koshi River on August 26. The team is undertaking on-the-ground searches and conducting detailed surveys at sites impacted by the flooding. They are also utilizing drone technology to capture aerial imagery, perform surveys, and generate three-dimensional maps. These advanced tools enable rescue teams to pinpoint search locations and access areas where flooding has severely compromised roads and infrastructure.
In collaboration with local authorities, the UAE team directs search operations throughout Rasuwa. Hamoud Al Afari, who oversees UAE relief efforts, confirmed that the use of available technological solutions is crucial in the ongoing search for missing persons. The deployment follows thorough assessments of flood and landslide-affected zones, where access has been hindered by extensive damage to roads and essential infrastructure. To maximize efficiency, teams are integrating ground operations with aerial reconnaissance to better evaluate the disaster zone and guide their search activities.
The UAE relief team arrived in Nepal on September 4, aboard the third relief flight that also transported 20 tonnes of aid supplies. According to officials, this flight increased the total aid delivered by the UAE to Nepal to 148 tonnes. The specialized search unit comprises personnel from Dubai Police equipped with technical gear designed specifically for disaster response. The UAE Aid Agency is managing a $10 million aid package aimed at supporting communities impacted by the floods and landslides. Earlier flights delivered essential supplies including food, shelter materials, generators, and other necessary items.
Search operations extend across flood-affected Rasuwa
As of the evening of September 6, Nepal’s District Administration Office in Rasuwa reported a total of 1,356 rescues. Of these, 1,270 were Nepali citizens and 86 were foreign nationals. Authorities also stated that helicopters had transported 1,414 flood-affected individuals and stranded pilgrims to Nuwakot and Kathmandu. The district continues to update records of those unaccounted for following the disaster, including local residents, security personnel, government workers, bank employees, and international tourists.
The same district update also recorded 169 bodies recovered from the disaster zones. While six have been positively identified, authorities are continuing the identification process for the remaining recovered bodies. Nepal Police has requested relatives of missing Nepali and foreign nationals to provide DNA profiles for comparison with recovered remains, prioritizing samples from first-degree relatives whenever possible. Families residing abroad can submit their DNA profiles electronically to facilitate identification. Additionally, authorities are maintaining and updating lists of missing persons and those uncontactable post-disaster.
Relief efforts run parallel to ongoing search and rescue activities
According to Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs, the Bhote Koshi flood impacted Rasuwa around 8:40 a.m. on August 26. Floodwaters also caused damage in riverbank regions across Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts. In response, the government launched search, rescue, and emergency relief operations immediately after the disaster. Local authorities have documented extensive damage to roads, bridges, homes, schools, banks, and hydropower facilities. Relief supplies are being distributed at various locations, with ongoing assessments to gauge both physical destruction and human loss.
The UAE team’s activities in Rasuwa are part of Nepal’s broader search and relief campaign led by local authorities. Its current focus includes conducting searches at specific sites, carrying out aerial surveys, and creating detailed maps to aid ground teams. Relief personnel from the UAE are also actively distributing food parcels, essential supplies, and other aid to the affected communities. While continuing their search efforts in damaged areas, local authorities are updating records related to rescue, recovery, and missing persons. As of September 7, these records remained under active revision.