Central command post formed for rescue operations

Kathmandu - An emergency meeting headed by Home Minister Janardan Sharma today has formed a central command post for intensifying rescue operations in the country. 

The command post was formed to intensify the rescue works as the country has been hardly hit by floods and landslides since the past few days. The meeting also deiced to urge the Indian side to open more doors of Laxmanpur barrage and Koshi barrage so as to minimize damage on the Nepali side. 

As many as 8,300 security personnel from Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Nepal Army have already been mobilized in the rescue operation across the country.
 
As per the Home Ministry sources, different 11 districts were badly affected by the floods. The worse hit districts are Panchthar, Sindhuli, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Sarlahi, Bara, Dang, Banke, Makawanpur and Palpa. 

As of now 33 people have been reported killed while four have gone missing in the landslides and floods so far. 

Following the rescue operation, over 200 people from Narainapur, Holiya, Phattepur, Tikulipur, Bairiya Sikta among other places of Banke district were rescued to safer zones. 

Similarly, rescue work were on at Madargachhi, Kapan, Kawas, Salpara, Saurghutu of Jhapa and Budhikhola of Sunsari, Hanumannagar and Tilathi of Saptari, Bagmati area of Sarlahi and Rautahat by using the rafting boats.

The District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee has distributed dry foods to victims in these areas. Efforts were also on to pack food items to be distributed to those affected by flooding and landslides, while helipads at Nepal Army's barracks have been kept ready for relief distribution. 

Likewise, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management has intensified clearance and repair of obstructed roads across the country so as to resume transport to help ease rescue operation and relief distribution. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has been asked to manage mobilising health workers with medicines to affected areas, while Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has been asked to operate private helicopters with priority in helping rescue operation. 

Similarly, the Home Ministry has appealed to one and all including industrialists, business entrepreneurs, civil society and social workers to help in rescue operation and relief distribution.