Rasuwa flood: Prime Minister addresses rescue challenges

Prime Minister Balendra Shah addressed the House of Representatives regarding the devastating Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa, specifically addressing the search for missing persons and the rescue of individuals trapped in hydropower project tunnels.

Shah explained that rescue efforts were hindered by massive volumes of mud, silt, and debris within the tunnels, which prevented safe access for workers and excavators. He noted that the government attempted to alert residents via 1.1 million SMS messages and telephone calls approximately 30 minutes before the flood occurred.

Despite these claims, victims' families have raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of the warning systems and the speed of the government's mobilization. Questions remain regarding why many residents did not receive timely warnings and why rescue operations for missing relatives were perceived as delayed.