RASUWA, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – The UAE Search and Rescue Team is actively operating in Nepal’s flood-affected Rasuwa district. Their deployment aims to assist Nepalese authorities in investigating areas devastated by the flood caused by the Bhote Koshi River on August 26. Teams are performing ground searches and conducting on-site field surveys. They leverage drone technology for aerial imaging, mapping, and three-dimensional visualization, enabling teams to identify search zones and access regions where flooding has compromised roads and infrastructure.
The UAE rescue team collaborates closely with Nepalese officials to coordinate search efforts across Rasuwa. Hamoud Al Afari, director of UAE relief operations, emphasized that the deployment benefits from advanced technology to aid in finding missing persons. The operation followed evaluations of flood-damaged zones and landslides. Search teams have encountered obstacles such as damaged roads and critical infrastructure, hindering access. Consequently, they blend on-ground efforts with aerial reconnaissance to assess the terrain and direct search activities efficiently.
The specialized rescue team arrived in Nepal on the third UAE relief flight on Sept. 4, bringing with it 20 tonnes of aid supplies. This flight increased the total relief cargo shipped from the UAE to Nepal to 148 tonnes. The team comprises personnel from Dubai Police equipped with specialized disaster response tools. The UAE Aid Agency is managing a $10 million aid package directed at communities impacted by the floods and landslides. Previous flights delivered essential supplies including food, shelter materials, generators, and other vital resources.
Search and rescue efforts intensify across flood-affected Rasuwa
By the evening of September 6, Nepal’s District Administration Office in Rasuwa reported a total of 1,356 rescues. This figure comprises 1,270 Nepali citizens and 86 foreign nationals. Authorities also noted that helicopters had evacuated 1,414 flood-affected individuals and stranded pilgrims to Nuwakot and Kathmandu. The district continues to update records of those reported missing following the disaster. These records include local residents, security personnel, government officials, bank employees, and international tourists.
In addition, the same district report confirmed that 169 bodies had been recovered from affected areas, with six identified so far. Efforts to identify the remaining recovered bodies are ongoing. Nepal Police have appealed to relatives of missing Nepali and foreign nationals to submit DNA profiles for comparison with recovered remains, prioritizing samples from first-degree relatives where possible. Families abroad can send DNA data electronically for matching. Authorities continue to maintain up-to-date lists of individuals missing or unaccounted for.
Relief efforts persist alongside ongoing search missions
Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs reported that the Bhote Koshi flood struck Rasuwa at approximately 8:40 a.m. on August 26. The floodwaters also caused damage to riverbank areas in Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts. The government promptly launched search, rescue, and emergency relief operations following the disaster. Local authorities documented destruction to roads, bridges, homes, schools, banks, and hydropower facilities. Relief supplies have been distributed at multiple locations, while assessments of physical and human losses continue.
The UAE team’s efforts in Rasuwa are part of a broader response led by Nepalese authorities. Its current focus involves conducting search site assessments, aerial surveys, and detailed mapping to support teams on the ground. Additionally, UAE relief personnel are distributing food parcels, essential items, and other supplies to affected communities. Search teams remain active in damaged areas while local officials update rescue, recovery, and missing-person data. As of September 7, the latest records from the district were still being revised and updated.