RASUWA, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – The UAE Search and Rescue Team is actively engaged in field operations within Nepal’s Rasuwa district following devastating flooding that impacted the area. Their mission involves supporting Nepali officials as they conduct searches through affected communities and rugged terrain. Using advanced tools such as drones, aerial imagery, and three-dimensional mapping technology, the team is able to survey the regions impacted by the floodwaters. This equipment provides rescuers with comprehensive views of locations where infrastructure like roads and buildings has been damaged, aiding in efficient search and rescue efforts.
Coordination with local authorities is central to the UAE personnel’s strategy, as they direct teams towards priority zones for search across the district. Hamoud Al Afari, head of UAE relief operations, emphasized that the deployment of technical equipment is instrumental in locating missing persons. The teams have combined ground searches with aerial reconnaissance in areas where access has been restricted due to road damage. The primary aim of the operation is to pinpoint affected sites, chart accessible routes, and bolster rescue workers operating within the flood-impacted zones.
The UAE’s relief efforts arrived in Nepal aboard the third flight dispatched on September 4, carrying not only personnel but also 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid for communities affected by the floods. This shipment brings the total aid delivered by the UAE to 148 tonnes. Dubai Police personnel also joined the operation, equipped for disaster response activities. The UAE Aid Agency is managing a $10 million aid package that includes essential supplies such as food, shelter materials, generators, and other vital items.
Rescue teams expand their presence in Rasuwa
As of the evening of Sept. 6, authorities in Rasuwa reported a total of 1,356 rescues. This figure comprises 1,270 Nepali nationals along with 86 foreigners. Helicopter operations have also played a crucial role in evacuating 1,414 flood-affected individuals and stranded pilgrims to Nuwakot and Kathmandu. Local officials continue to update their lists of people still unreachable, which include residents, government staff, security personnel, bank employees, and foreign visitors present in the region when the flood occurred.
Search efforts have also resulted in the recovery of 169 bodies, with six victims identified by September 6. Nepal Police have requested families of missing Nepali and foreign nationals to submit DNA samples to facilitate identification. Preference is given to samples from first-degree relatives when available. Families living outside Nepal can send their DNA profiles electronically for comparison with recovered remains. Authorities are actively updating missing-person records and identification data as new information from field teams becomes available.
Rescue and relief operations unite in flood response
Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs reported that the flood from the Bhote Koshi River struck Rasuwa around 8:40 a.m. on Aug. 26. The floodwaters also caused damage in riverbank zones of Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts. The government promptly launched search, rescue, and emergency relief initiatives to address the crisis. Damage assessments have documented destruction to roads, bridges, homes, schools, banks, and hydropower facilities. Relief teams are actively distributing supplies while officials evaluate the full extent of the damage across affected communities.
The UAE team remains focused on key search sites, conducting aerial surveys, and creating detailed maps for ground crews. They are also engaged in distributing food packages and essential supplies to communities impacted by flooding and landslides. Meanwhile, Nepali authorities are continuing rescue, recovery, and identification operations throughout Rasuwa, keeping their records of missing persons up to date. As of Sept. 7, these figures remain subject to revision as field teams continue reporting new findings from search efforts.