Kathmandu: Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said Thursday that he fears more deaths as rescue workers struggle to access remote mountainous areas devastated by deadly flash floods and mudslides, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
According to Nam News Network, Khanal told CBS News that he is “definitely scared that there’ll be more loss of lives” due to the destruction of entire villages, towns, and hydropower plants. He highlighted that severe damage in Nuwakot, a rugged district in northern Nepal, has cut off physical connectivity, making it challenging for rescue operations.
Khanal explained that because roads and bridges have been completely swept away, helicopters are currently the primary means of reaching isolated communities. The disaster, which struck the Nepal-China border on August 26, has resulted in over 1,200 deaths, with nearly 4,757 people still missing, including 541 in China.
Emphasizing the humanitarian nature of the rescue efforts, Khanal stated that rescue teams are working without discrimination between local and foreign citizens, focusing solely on saving lives and providing assistance to those affected.