RASUWA, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – The UAE Search and Rescue Team is actively engaged in field operations within Nepal’s flood-affected Rasuwa district. Their deployment supports efforts by Nepalese authorities to locate victims in areas devastated by the August 26 Bhote Koshi River flood. The team is performing ground searches and conducting on-site surveys. Drones are being utilized for aerial imaging, mapping, and three-dimensional surveys, aiding in pinpointing search zones and accessing locations where floodwaters have obstructed roads and damaged infrastructure.
Direct collaboration with Nepalese authorities guides the UAE team’s allocation of search resources across Rasuwa. Hamoud Al Afari, director of UAE relief operations, confirmed that available technological tools are facilitating the search for missing persons. The deployment follows assessments of the flood- and landslide-affected regions, where access issues have been encountered due to extensive damage to roads and vital infrastructure. Ground teams continue to work alongside aerial reconnaissance to examine affected zones and direct rescue operations effectively.
Arriving in Nepal on the third UAE relief flight on September 4, the specialized search unit was accompanied by 20 tonnes of aid. This flight increased the total relief delivered by the UAE to Nepal to 148 tonnes. The team comprises personnel from Dubai Police, equipped with technical gear suited for disaster response. A $10 million aid package from the UAE Aid Agency is being distributed to communities impacted by the floods and landslides. Previous flights delivered essential supplies such as food, shelter materials, generators, and other necessities.
Expansion of Search Operations in Flood-Affected Rasuwa
As of the evening of September 6, Nepal’s District Administration Office in Rasuwa reported a total of 1,356 rescues. This included 1,270 Nepali citizens and 86 foreigners. Helicopter transport has moved 1,414 flood-affected individuals and stranded pilgrims to Nuwakot and Kathmandu. The district continues to update records of persons unaccounted for after the disaster, including residents, security personnel, government officials, bank workers, and international tourists.
The same district update documented the recovery of 169 bodies from the affected regions. Authorities have identified six of these and are continuing the process for the remaining recovered remains. Nepal Police have asked relatives of missing Nepali and foreign nationals to submit DNA profiles for comparison with recovered bodies, prioritizing samples from close relatives when possible. Families abroad can also send DNA data electronically. Records of missing and out-of-contact individuals are being maintained and updated regularly.
Relief Efforts Persist Alongside Search Operations
Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs reported that the Bhote Koshi flood struck Rasuwa around 8:40 a.m. on August 26. Floodwaters also caused damage to riverbank areas across Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts. Following the disaster, search, rescue, and emergency relief operations commenced. Local authorities documented extensive damage to roads, bridges, homes, schools, banks, and hydropower facilities. Relief supplies have been distributed across multiple locations while ongoing assessments of both physical damage and human losses are being conducted.
The UAE team’s work in Rasuwa is part of a broader search and relief effort led by Nepalese authorities. Its current focus involves conducting search operations, aerial surveys, and detailed mapping to support on-the-ground teams. Relief personnel from the UAE are also engaged in distributing food parcels, essential items, and other supplies in affected zones. While search activities continue in damaged areas, local authorities are updating records related to rescue, recovery, and missing persons. As of September 7, these records remain under active revision.