RASUWA, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – The UAE Search and Rescue Team is actively engaged in fieldwork within Nepal’s Rasuwa district following devastating floods that impacted the area. Their efforts include assisting Nepali authorities in exploring communities that have suffered damage and navigating challenging terrain. Using technology such as drones, aerial imaging, and three-dimensional mapping, the team is conducting surveys of the impacted zones. These tools provide detailed insights into locations where floodwaters have damaged roads, structures, and other critical infrastructure.
Coordination between UAE personnel and local officials is ongoing to prioritize search efforts across Rasuwa. Hamoud Al Afari, who leads UAE relief operations, emphasized that their technical equipment is vital in locating missing persons. Combining ground searches with aerial reconnaissance in areas where damaged roads hinder access allows teams to more effectively identify affected sites, plan routes, and support rescue operations across the flooded regions.
The UAE’s third relief flight arrived in Nepal on Sept. 4, carrying the search and rescue team. This aircraft also transported 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid intended for flood-affected communities. Officials confirmed that the total relief delivered by the UAE now amounts to 148 tonnes. Dubai Police personnel joined the disaster response team with specialized equipment. The UAE Aid Agency is managing a $10 million aid package that includes food, shelter supplies, generators, and other vital resources.
Expansion of Search Operations in Rasuwa
By the evening of Sept. 6, authorities in Rasuwa reported a total of 1,356 rescues. This included 1,270 Nepali citizens and 86 foreign nationals. Helicopters have also ferried 1,414 flood-affected individuals and stranded pilgrims to Nuwakot and Kathmandu. Officials continue to update lists of people still missing, which include residents, government workers, security personnel, bank staff, and foreign visitors who were in the affected areas when the floods occurred.
As search operations persist, officials have recovered 169 bodies, with six identified by Sept. 6. Nepal Police have requested relatives of missing Nepali and foreign nationals to provide DNA profiles for identification purposes. When possible, samples from immediate family members are preferred. Families residing outside Nepal can submit their DNA data electronically for comparison with recovered remains. Authorities are actively updating missing-person records and identifications based on new information reported by field teams.
Relief and Rescue Efforts in Flood-Affected Areas
Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs reported that the flood caused by the Bhote Koshi River struck Rasuwa around 8:40 a.m. on Aug. 26. Similar flooding also affected riverbank regions in Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts. The government initiated search, rescue, and emergency relief activities immediately following the disaster. Damage assessments reveal destruction to roads, bridges, residential buildings, schools, banks, and hydropower installations. Relief teams have been distributing supplies while officials evaluate the extent of damage across the impacted communities.
The UAE’s ongoing efforts remain centered on locating search sites, conducting aerial surveys, and creating detailed maps to assist ground crews. Relief workers are distributing food parcels and essential supplies to communities affected by the floods and landslides. Nepali authorities continue rescue, recovery, and identification operations throughout Rasuwa, maintaining updated records of missing persons. As of Sept. 7, these figures are subject to change as new data from search teams becomes available.