National Disaster Risk Reduction Authority Reports Displacement of Flood Victims

Kathmandu. Executive Chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Dr. Dharamaraj Upreti, said that the flood-affected people of Rasuwa are being relocated from the holding centers. Speaking at a meeting of the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee, he informed that the number of people leaving the holding centers has increased after the government started providing house rent for temporary settlement. The government has decided to provide Rs 15,000 per month as house rent for temporary settlement. Upreti stated that the number of 37 holding centers established after the disaster has decreased to 20. A provision has been made to provide Rs 15,000 for a family of up to four members and Rs 2,000 per additional member. The number of people staying in holding centers has significantly decreased. According to the latest details, only 1,661 affected people, including 324 in Nuwakot, 786 in Rasuwa, and 121 in Dhading, are currently in holding centers. "Out of 37 holding centers where affected people were kept after the disaster, the number has now decreased to 20," said Executive Chief Dr. Upreti. "After the government decided to provide house rent up to Rs 15,000, they have moved to rented houses." He informed that 1,451 people have died so far in the Rasuwa flood. Among the deceased, 336 were women and 585 were men, and the identification of 530 people was done through DNA testing. 1,997 relatives of the deceased have provided DNA samples of 1,286 people. A total of 5,786 people, including 636 foreign nationals, are missing. He informed that 20,929 security personnel have been deployed for their search, rescue, and relief. Search and rescue work has been completed in Rasuwagadhi, Langtang, and Chilime, while rescue is ongoing in the Upper Trishuli, Trishuli-3 'A', and Trishuli-3 'B' areas. Human organs stuck in nets have been found in the Upper Trishuli area, Upreti said. Expert teams from China, India, South Korea, UAE, Malaysia, and Australia assisted in the rescue. Out of the 1,451 bodies recovered from the flood, 1,292 have been kept in safe storage, and 111 bodies have been handed over to families. A total of 3,685 samples, including 1,957 at the Nepal Police Central Forensic Science Laboratory and 1,728 at the National Forensic Science Laboratory, have been received for DNA testing. Expert teams from India, Singapore, South Korea, the USA, and China are working with the Nepal Police to assist in DNA testing.