RASUWA, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – Following devastating floods that affected the region, the UAE Search and Rescue Team is actively engaged in field missions within Nepal’s Rasuwa district. Their primary role is to aid Nepali officials by searching through damaged communities and challenging terrains. The team employs drones, aerial imaging, and three-dimensional mapping technology to evaluate the affected zones. Such advanced equipment enables rescue teams to obtain comprehensive views of areas where floodwaters have caused destruction to roads, buildings, and infrastructure.
Coordination with local authorities is a key part of the UAE team’s efforts, guiding units toward priority zones for search and rescue. Hamoud Al Afari, director of UAE relief operations, emphasized that the technological tools are instrumental in locating missing persons. They combine ground-level searches with aerial reconnaissance in areas where damaged roads hinder accessibility. The main goal of this operation is to identify critical locations, chart routes, and support rescue teams operating within the flood-affected regions.
The UAE’s third relief flight, which arrived in Nepal on September 4, carried the search and rescue team and 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid for communities impacted by the floods. Officials confirmed that the total relief deliveries from the UAE now amount to 148 tonnes. Dubai Police personnel joined the specialized mission, bringing equipment designed for disaster response. The UAE Aid Agency is managing a $10 million aid package that includes food, shelter supplies, generators, and other vital resources.
Rescue Operations Extend Across Rasuwa
As of September 6 evening, authorities in Rasuwa reported conducting 1,356 rescues. Among those rescued were 1,270 Nepali citizens and 86 foreigners. Helicopters also evacuated 1,414 flood-affected individuals and stranded pilgrims to Nuwakot and Kathmandu. Local officials continue updating the list of individuals unaccounted for, including residents, government workers, security personnel, bank employees, and foreign visitors present in the impacted zones at the time of the flooding.
The district’s authorities have documented 169 bodies recovered so far, with six identified by September 6. Nepal Police have urged relatives of missing Nepali and international victims to submit DNA profiles for identification purposes. Preference is given to samples from first-degree relatives when possible. Families outside Nepal can submit DNA data electronically for comparison with recovered remains. Search teams keep refining their missing persons and identification records based on new data and ongoing field reports.
Flood Relief Efforts Combine Search and Humanitarian Assistance
Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs reported that the flood caused by the Bhote Koshi River struck Rasuwa around 8:40 a.m. on August 26. The disaster also inflicted damage in riverbank regions of Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts. In response, the government launched search, rescue, and emergency relief operations. Damage assessments have documented destruction to roads, bridges, homes, schools, banks, and hydropower facilities. Relief teams are actively distributing supplies while officials evaluate the extent of the damage in affected communities.
The ongoing UAE deployment continues to prioritize search locations, aerial surveys, and detailed mapping to assist ground crews. Relief efforts include distributing food packages and essential items within flood- and landslide-affected areas. Nepali authorities persist with rescue, recovery, and identification activities across Rasuwa, maintaining updated records of missing individuals. As of September 7, these figures remain subject to change as field teams report new findings from their search operations.