RASUWA, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – The UAE Search and Rescue Team is actively engaged in field operations within Nepal’s flood-affected Rasuwa district. This deployment aims to assist Nepalese authorities in their search efforts across areas impacted by the flood from the Bhote Koshi River on August 26. Ground searches and field surveys are underway at various damaged sites, with drones being employed for aerial imaging, terrain surveying, and creating three-dimensional maps. These technological tools enable responders to pinpoint search locations and access regions where flooding has compromised roads and infrastructure.
Working in close coordination with Nepalese officials, the UAE team helps coordinate search operations throughout Rasuwa. Hamoud Al Afari, head of UAE relief efforts, confirmed that the available technology enhances the search for missing persons. The deployment was initiated after thorough assessments of flood and landslide-affected zones. Many areas are difficult to access due to extensive damage to roads and basic infrastructure, prompting the teams to combine on-the-ground activities with aerial reconnaissance to examine the disaster zones and direct rescue efforts.
The UAE rescue unit arrived in Nepal aboard the third relief flight on September 4, carrying 20 tonnes of aid supplies. This flight increased the total relief deliveries from the UAE to Nepal to 148 tonnes. The specialized search team, comprising personnel from Dubai Police, is equipped with technical disaster response tools. The UAE Aid Agency has allocated a $10 million aid package to support communities impacted by the floods and landslides. Previous flights brought essential supplies such as food, shelter materials, generators, and other vital items.
Search operations extend across flood-affected Rasuwa
As of 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. Authorities also indicated that helicopters had evacuated 1,414 individuals affected by the floods and stranded pilgrims to Nuwakot and Kathmandu. Ongoing efforts to locate missing persons continue, with official records including local residents, security personnel, government workers, bank employees, and international tourists reported out of contact following the disaster.
The same update revealed that 169 bodies had been recovered from the affected regions. Authorities identified six of these bodies and are working on identifying the remaining recovered remains. Nepal Police have 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 residing abroad can also electronically submit DNA profiles for matching. Additionally, authorities are maintaining updated lists of missing and unaccounted-for individuals.
Relief efforts continue alongside ongoing 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 damaged riverbank areas in districts including Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha. Following the disaster, the government launched search, rescue, and emergency relief activities. They documented extensive damage to roads, bridges, homes, schools, banks, and hydropower facilities. Relief supplies are being distributed at multiple locations as authorities continue to assess both physical and human losses.
The efforts of the UAE team in Rasuwa are part of a larger rescue and relief operation led by Nepalese authorities. Their current focus includes operations at search sites, aerial surveys, and detailed mapping to support ground teams. UAE relief personnel are also providing food parcels, essential items, and other supplies within affected regions. While search teams operate in damaged zones, local officials are actively updating records related to rescue, recovery, and missing persons. As of September 7, these district records remained under continuous revision.