Nepal focuses on rehabilitation as it ends search and rescue after flood

Nepal ended its search and rescue operations on October 5, 40 days after devastating floods hit the country on August 26. The floods killed at least 1,455 people and left over 5,000 individuals, including 189 Indians, still missing. Phanindra Paudel, chief of the National Emergency Operation Centre, announced that authorities would now focus on rehabilitation efforts rather than active search for survivors or bodies. Dharam Raj Uprety from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority stated that while no longer searching actively, remains, property, and other valuables will still be recovered if found during the rehabilitation process. The government is also considering declaring missing individuals dead to assist their families with insurance and legal formalities. Additionally, Nepal plans to drain four glacial lakes in mountainous areas to mitigate future flood risks.