Prakash Sigdel,USA

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said that the government is working with high priority on the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation of citizens affected by the disaster.
In a message on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on Friday, Prime Minister Shah expressed his commitment that the state stands with every disaster-affected family in difficult times and will reach out to every citizen awaiting rescue.
According to Prime Minister Shah, 15,431 security personnel from Nepal Police, Nepal Army and Armed Police Force Nepal have been mobilized to the affected areas for search and rescue. 4,473 Nepal Police personnel, 6,755 Nepal Army personnel and 4,203 Armed Police Force personnel have been deployed in areas including Rasuwa and Bhotekoshi-Trishuli corridor. Prime Minister Shah said that 4,451 people have been rescued so far. Among those rescued, 191 people were rescued from the hydroelectric tunnel and 517 were rescued by air. 16 helicopters from the Nepal Army and the private sector are continuously being used for air rescue in areas including Dhunche, Trishuli, Timure and Syafrubesi. So far, 99 air flights have been conducted.
Special priority has been given to rescuing citizens and workers trapped in tunnels. It is stated that search and rescue operations are ongoing in risky tunnels, including the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Station, and necessary special rescue equipment has been mobilized.

The search for missing citizens and bodies has been expanded to the lower coastal areas. Prime Minister Shah has said that additional security personnel have been mobilized in the Trishuli-Narayani river corridor from Rasuwa to Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan and Nawalparasi.

Special coordination is also being made for the search, rescue and identification of foreign nationals. He informed that so far, 129 foreign tourists and citizens have been rescued and identified and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has operated an emergency control room to coordinate with the concerned embassies and families.

Prime Minister Shah said that the propaganda that foreign assistance has been rejected is misleading. He clarified that there is continuous coordination with India, China and international partners on the necessary assistance and materials for rescue and relief. He said that while deploying helicopters, priority has been given to air security, geographical access and real needs.