Nepal Ends Flood Search, 5,285 Remain Missing

Nepal ended its 40-day active search-and-rescue operation on Oct. 5 for the Aug. 26 Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods that originated at Nepal's border with China's Tibet region, with 5,285 people still missing as of Oct. 3. At least 1,455 were confirmed dead and 13,795 rescued; 606 foreign tourists from 36 countries remain unaccounted for. National Emergency Operation Centre chief Phanindra Paudel told Reuters the country is "moving from the search and rescue phase to the search and rehabilitation phase" and is "initiating due processes to complete required legal formalities" so families can handle matters such as insurance and banking. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority chief Dharam Raj Uprety said authorities will no longer actively search for bodies but will recover remains or property found during rehabilitation, while still doing emergency rescues if needed. A National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management meeting chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah advanced a proposed budget of about NPR 559 billion (roughly US$3.6 billion) for 504 reconstruction and rehabilitation programs to the Ministry of Finance; authorities have said nearly US$5 billion is needed for early recovery. The floods destroyed 12 hydroelectric projects as well as roads, bridges, farms and settlements. The shift followed recommendations from district security committees, district disaster management committees and the NDRRMA Executive Committee.