RASUWA, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – In Nepal’s flood-affected Rasuwa district, the UAE Search and Rescue Team has begun extensive field efforts. Their deployment aims to assist Nepalese authorities in locating victims and providing relief following the devastating flood caused by the August 26 Bhote Koshi River. The team is actively conducting ground searches and field assessments in the impacted zones, utilizing drones for aerial imaging, mapping, and 3D modeling. This advanced technology enables responders to pinpoint search locations and access areas where floodwaters have compromised roads and infrastructure.
Collaborating closely with Nepalese officials, the UAE team directs search operations across Rasuwa. Hamoud Al Afari, the director of UAE relief efforts, highlighted that the technological tools in use are vital for finding missing individuals. Their field deployment was initiated after conducting evaluations of flood- and landslide-affected areas, which have posed significant access challenges due to extensive damage to roads and basic services. The crews continue to combine terrestrial searches with aerial surveys, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the disaster zones to steer rescue activities effectively.
The team arrived in Nepal on the third UAE relief flight on September 4, carrying 20 tonnes of aid supplies. This flight increased the total aid delivered by the UAE to Nepal to 148 tonnes. The specialized search unit comprises personnel from Dubai Police and is equipped with technical disaster response equipment. The UAE Aid Agency is managing a $10 million aid package aimed at supporting communities impacted by the floods and landslides. Previous flights delivered essential items such as food, shelter materials, generators, and other critical supplies.
Rescue efforts broaden across flood-affected Rasuwa
By the evening of September 6, Nepal’s District Administration Office in Rasuwa reported a total of 1,356 rescues. Among those rescued, 1,270 were Nepali citizens, and 86 were foreign nationals. The authorities also reported that helicopters had transported 1,414 individuals affected by the floods and stranded pilgrims to Nuwakot and Kathmandu. The district continues updating records of persons reported missing after the disaster, including residents, security personnel, government employees, bank staff, and international tourists.
Furthermore, the district reported the recovery of 169 bodies from affected zones. While six of these victims have been identified, efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining recovered bodies. Nepal Police has requested relatives of missing Nepali and foreign nationals to submit DNA profiles for comparison with recovered remains, prioritizing samples from first-degree relatives when possible. Families abroad can electronically submit DNA profiles for matching. Authorities continue to maintain and update lists of those still missing or out of contact.
Relief efforts proceed alongside ongoing search operations
Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs reported that the Bhote Koshi flood struck Rasuwa at approximately 8:40 a.m. on August 26. Floodwaters also caused damage to riverbank areas in districts including Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha. The government launched search, rescue, and emergency relief activities immediately following the disaster. Local authorities have documented extensive damage to roads, bridges, homes, schools, banks, and hydropower installations. Relief supplies have been distributed at various sites while ongoing assessments continue to quantify physical destruction and human losses.
The UAE team’s work in Rasuwa forms part of the larger search and relief campaign led by Nepalese officials. Current operations focus on locating victims, conducting aerial surveys, and creating detailed maps for ground teams. UAE relief personnel are also distributing food parcels, essential supplies, and other aid in affected communities. As search efforts persist in damaged regions, local authorities are updating rescue, recovery, and missing-person records, which remained under active revision as of September 7.