Bhotekoshi floods: Search and rescue halted, focus shifts to reconstruction

The government has decided to halt, for the time being, the search and rescue phase following the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli floods, except for essential work. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Balen Shah at Singha Durbar on Monday.

Reconstruction and rehabilitation in the affected areas will now be given priority. The relevant agencies have been instructed to speed up this work.

Meanwhile, work has begun to install a Bailey bridge over the Falakhu Khola on the Betrawati river to connect Nuwakot and Rasuwa. The bridge is targeted to be opened before Dashain.

In a meeting with the chief ministers of the affected provinces, Prime Minister Shah assured them that disaster management work would be completed quickly. According to him, coordination among the federal, provincial and local governments is underway.