Nepal Flood Rescue Efforts Hampered by Equipment Shortage

Security personnel risking their lives to rescue survivors and recover bodies after the devastating flash floods in Nepal are facing major challenges due to shortages of specialised rescue equipment, body bags, ropes and helicopters, officials said.

The flash floods, believed to have been triggered by a collapse or avalanche of ice and rock near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, swept through the Bhotekoshi River corridor, destroying homes, roads and bridges and damaging hydropower projects.

The death toll from the disaster crossed 900 on Monday, while over 4,000 people remained missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).