RASUWA, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – The UAE Search and Rescue Team is actively conducting field operations in Nepal’s Rasuwa district following severe flooding that impacted the area. Their teams are assisting Nepali officials in examining devastated communities and navigating challenging terrain. To perform their survey work, the team employs drones, aerial imaging, and three-dimensional mapping technology. These tools provide detailed views of regions where floodwaters damaged roads, structures, and infrastructure.
UAE rescue personnel are working in close coordination with local authorities to prioritize search zones across the district. Hamoud Al Afari, director of UAE relief operations, stated that the technical equipment is crucial in helping crews locate missing individuals. The teams are combining ground searches with aerial reconnaissance, especially in areas where damaged roads hinder access. The focus of the operation is on identifying affected locations, mapping routes, and supporting rescue teams operating within the flood-impacted zones.
The UAE’s third relief flight brought the search and rescue team to Nepal on Sept. 4. Along with personnel, the aircraft carried 20 tonnes of humanitarian supplies for communities affected by the floods. Officials confirmed that this shipment increased UAE relief deliveries to a total of 148 tonnes. Dubai Police personnel are also part of this specialized disaster response team, bringing equipment to support efforts. Additionally, the UAE Aid Agency is managing a $10 million aid package that includes food, shelter materials, generators, and other vital supplies.
Expanding Search and Rescue Operations Across Rasuwa
Authorities in Rasuwa reported conducting 1,356 rescues up to the evening of Sept. 6. Among those rescued, 1,270 were Nepali citizens, and 86 were foreign nationals. Helicopters have transported 1,414 flood-affected individuals and stranded pilgrims to Nuwakot and Kathmandu. Local officials are still updating lists of those who remain unaccounted for. These records include residents, government workers, security personnel, bank employees, and foreign visitors who were present in the affected areas when the floods occurred.
As search operations continue, district authorities have also recovered 169 bodies. By Sept. 6, officials had identified six of the recovered victims. Nepal Police have called on families of missing Nepali and foreign nationals to submit DNA profiles for identification purposes. They prefer samples from first-degree relatives when possible. Families outside Nepal can also electronically submit DNA data to compare with recovered remains. As new information comes in, officials are updating missing-person and identification records based on reports from field teams.
Flood Response Involves Both Rescue Missions and Relief Efforts
Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs reported that the flood from the Bhote Koshi River affected Rasuwa around 8:40 a.m. on Aug. 26. The floodwaters also caused damage in riverbank regions of Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha districts. Following the disaster, the government launched extensive search, rescue, and emergency relief operations. Damage assessments have documented destruction of roads, bridges, homes, schools, banks, and hydropower facilities. Relief teams have been distributing supplies while officials evaluate the extent of damage across the impacted communities.
The UAE’s ongoing deployment continues to focus on strategic search locations, aerial surveys, and detailed mapping for ground crews. Relief workers are distributing food packages and essential items within flood- and landslide-affected communities. Meanwhile, Nepali authorities persist with rescue, recovery, and identification efforts across Rasuwa. They also keep updated records of missing individuals. As of Sept. 7, these figures are subject to revision, as field teams report new findings from search operations.