Kathmandu. Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said that the government has focused its entire attention on saving the lives of the people, searching and rescuing the disappeared, treating the injured, immediate relief to the affected families, safe settlement and speedy rehabilitation of damaged essential infrastructure.

After returning from Bidur of Nuwakot district today, Prime Minister Shah said that all levels of government machinery have been mobilized in full capacity and there will be no shortage of necessary resources for rescue and relief work. “We are still in work. The government is with the affected people in this hour of crisis. All the state agencies will remain on the ground until the rescue and relief operations are completed,” he said.

Stating that he reached Nuwakot today and returned to Kathmandu after observing the situation in the flood-affected areas, he said he had taken direct information from the affected people, local people’s representatives, security personnel, health workers and all those involved in rescue and relief work. “The situation is still challenging. All the state mechanisms are mobilized in full capacity. Our first priority now is to save the life of each and every citizen, search and rescue of the disappeared, treat the injured and provide immediate relief to the affected families,” he said.

A total of 13,295 security personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police have been mobilized for the rescue and search works, said PM Dahal.

He also shared that the joint operation committee of the Nepal Army, the ‘quick action team’ of the National Disaster Mitigation and Risk Management Authority and the ‘rapid action team’ of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers were continuously coordinating and monitoring the situation.

“Rescue operations are being carried out by air and land routes. Today, 69 flights were operated and 351 people were rescued. More helicopters have been kept on standby,” the Prime Minister said, adding that private helicopters have also been deployed for rescue and relief under the government command and coordination system. Priority has been given to the sick, pregnant and lactating women, children, senior citizens and people with disabilities in the air rescue. ”

He said, “The work of shifting the people and security personnel stranded in the affected areas including Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading to safer places is underway.” Arrangements have been made for temporary accommodation in schools and public/community buildings for the immediate settlement of about 3,500 people. One crore rupees have been mobilized in Rasuwa, one crore in Nuwakot and 50 million in Dhading for immediate relief of the affected people. Relief materials including noodles, biscuits, sleeping bags, mattresses, blankets and other relief materials have been sent to 10 trucks while additional food and non-food items are also being transported to the affected areas by helicopter. ”

Temporary relief camps have been set up in the affected areas to provide food, drinking water and essential basic services, while the Nepal Red Cross, Nepal Scouts, Lions Club and other voluntary organisations have also been mobilized for rescue and relief efforts.

“The Health Emergency Operation Centre has been activated. Bir Hospital, Trauma Centre, Teaching Hospital, Civil Hospital, Patan Hospital and Police Hospital have been kept on standby. 100 emergency beds each have been set up at Bir and Trauma Centre and 60 emergency beds have been set up at Patan Hospital. Medical teams, medicines, ambulances and blood transfusion services have been mobilised as per the requirement,” he said.

Prime Minister Shah said that free treatment has been ensured to the affected and injured people. He said that medical teams have been mobilized with necessary medicines and equipment from Trauma Centre, Bir Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and other hospitals.

“The supply of necessary relief and rescue materials has been systematized in the affected areas. Arrangements have been made to collect the relief materials at the National Emergency Godhouse at Tribhuvan International Airport, Maithili Barrack of Nepal Army at Battar of Nuwakot and Baireni Barrack of Dhading and send them to the affected areas on the basis of need and priority”, he added.

Prime Minister Shah said that generators, portable mobile towers, batteries, health materials, tents and iron stone cutting machinery and other essential goods have been sent to the disaster-hit areas through air and land routes.

“The restoration of telecommunication services has been given emergency priority. So far, at least 70 towers/sites, including 38 of Nepal Telecom and 32 of Ncell, have been closed. The work of restoring the service is going on by transporting technical teams, generators and batteries to the affected areas through helicopters,” he said.

The affected citizens have been provided with free communication facility immediately. He said that Nepal Telecom has provided 2 GB data, 50 SMS and free voice calls daily, while Ncell has also provided free voice/data and SMS facility. He said that temporary mobile connectivity and mobile charging facility are being expanded.

“High priority has been given to the immediate restoration of essential infrastructures including roads, bridges, drinking water, electricity and telecommunications. The concerned ministries, departments and bodies have been directed to immediately mobilize the required human resources, equipment and resources to expedite the work of damage assessment and restoration of damaged structures,” he said.

Stating that the works for rehabilitation of OPGWs and power structures have been forwarded in coordination with the Nepal Electricity Authority, the Prime Minister said that the structures providing direct assistance in rescue and relief work are being restarted with priority.

“Necessary arrangements have been made to ensure that there is no shortage of fuel in the affected areas. The Bhairavi, Suryamati and Panchakanya oil stores in Nuwakot have 23,000 liters of diesel and six thousand liters of petrol in stock. Today, an additional 15,000 liters of diesel and 15,000 liters of petrol have been dispatched. Eight thousand liters of aviation fuel is in stock and an additional nine thousand liters have been sent,” he said, adding that drone survey and on-site assessment are being done to collect the actual situation and damage in the affected areas. Rescue and relief operations are being made more targeted and effective by identifying the stranded people, blocked roads and the condition of access. ”

Prime Minister Shah said that the people living on the river banks have been urged to adopt high alertness in view of the possible additional risks, adding that continuous monitoring was being carried out to check the flow of Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, possible landslides and other risks. He said that the people living on the banks of the risky rivers in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan have been urged to move to safer places.

“Continuous coordination is underway among the federal, province, local levels, security agencies, health institutions, Red Cross, NGOs and development partners to make rescue and relief operations more effective. The Chief District Officers and local levels of the concerned districts have been directed to identify the needs and take immediate response,” he said, adding that financial assistance would be provided to the families of the deceased as per the prevailing laws and identification of the deceased and management of the dead bodies would be carried out in a systematic manner. ”

Stating that national and international assistance has been mobilized for post-disaster relief and rehabilitation, Prime Minister Shah said relief materials have been received from India while necessary assistance and coordination are being made with the US, EU, WHO and RFRC among other international partners. He said that the assistance received from the private sector and citizens is also being mobilized in an integrated manner.