32 police officers among 41 security personnel missing after Nepal flood

41 security personnel, including 32 from the Nepal Police and nine from the Armed Police Force, remain unreachable following a fierce flash flood that hit Nepal’s Rasuwa district, Nepal News reported.

The flood had caused widespread damage to the buildings of the police premises and other infrastructure in Timure and Syabrubesi along with the Bhotekoshi River, sources said, while search and rescue operations for the security personnel had begun as the level of devastation was being assessed.

The Nepal Police have stated that while a section of their offices and personnel in multiple places remain cut off after floodwaters destroyed buildings of Timure Area Police Office, Syabrubesi Police Post and Rasuwagadhi Police Post, nine security personnel belonging to the Armed Police Force at the Timure border outpost are still out of contact.

Apart from the destruction of the office structures, scores of local houses and other residential compounds have also been levelled. Meanwhile, locals residing in areas along the Trishuli River further downstream are being directed to evacuate to safer and higher ground, as the flood water is expected to cause a similar catastrophe downstream in the Dhading and other districts too.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has already sent in the Nepalese Army, police and other rescue volunteers to assist in the rescue operations, which have faced significant hurdles due to poor accessibility in certain sites, while official casualties are yet to be confirmed.