Melamchi floods: 31 missing, NA helicopters arrive for response

As of now, 16 people have been confirmed to have gone missing in the Melamchi floods in Sindhupalchowk district. The District Police Office said 15 others are feared to have been swept away by the river which turned violent following incessant rains since last evening.

DPO Spokesperson Deputy Superintendent of Police Prakash Sapkota said the body of one male has been retrieved.

Three helicopters of the Nepal Army arrived here today for flood management and rescue efforts. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs has managed food, tents and sleeping bags for the survivors. Minister for Health and Population Sher Bahadur Tamang who represents the Sindhupalchowk-2 in the House of Representatives is learnt to have held a meeting with Prime Minister for necessary rescue and relief in the flood-hit areas.

Meanwhile, the Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee says eight Melamchi Drinking Water Project staffs have gone missing in the flood. Among them, three are Chinese nationals, three Indians and two Nepali.

A search is being carried out to find the missing workers with the help of the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and the locals. The project said 76 people were rescued from the project construction site and airlifted to Kathmandu and Dhulikhel. They all are out of a life-threatening condition.  The flood, however, caused no damage to the project major tunnel, water processing plant, and the main dam. 

Project camps, devices, construction materials, access roads, and bridges were swept away by the flood.   The flood entered the project area at around 7:30 pm Tuesday.