KATHMANDU, Sept 1: India, China and South Korea have deployed technical teams to support search and rescue, tunnel rescue and body identification efforts following the Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa on August 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Speaking at a regular press briefing on Tuesday, ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri said technical teams from the three countries were working in coordination with Nepali security agencies.
A 24-member tunnel rescue team from India has been deployed in coordination with the Nepal Army at the Chilime and Langtang hydropower project areas. A nine-member tunnel rescue team from China has been deployed at the Upper Trishuli-3A hydropower project.
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A rescue team from South Korea has also arrived in Nepal and has been deployed for search and rescue operations in the flood-affected areas.
DNA experts assisting in identification
The ministry said Nepal is also receiving international technical assistance to identify bodies recovered from the disaster.
A 19-member DNA analysis expert team from India has been working in the field since August 29, spokesperson Chhetri said.
Preparations are underway to bring a four-member forensic team from China, while coordination is ongoing to deploy a Disaster Victim Identification team from Singapore.
The ministry said bodies that cannot be immediately identified are being temporarily buried in accordance with international standards after preserving DNA samples and other necessary evidence. The process will allow the bodies to be handed over to families once identification is established.
The ministry has urged close relatives of missing persons to contact the Nepal Police Hospital in Maharajgunj or their nearest district police office. Family members living abroad can also have DNA profiles prepared in their respective countries and send them through official channels of the Nepal Police.
