Kathmandu: Nepali Police has been undertaking a search operation for those 19 people reported missing in the flooding in Rasuwa since Tuesday night.
The search is underway in Trishuli and Narayani rivers after the dead body of one among the individuals swept away by flood was retrieved in Chitwan district.
Spokesperson of Nepal Police Bagmati Province Office and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanjay Singh Thapa said a team of police has been mobilized to find out those missing ones in river basin areas in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts as well.
According to SSP Thapa, the dead body found in Chitwan was identified to be of Assistant Sub Inspector of Nepal Police Lal Bahadur Shrestha.
A massive flood occurred in Lehende, Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers on Tuesday night wrecked havoc causing massive loss of lives and properties.
SSP Singh added that the search operation is ongoing on the suspicion that dead bodies were washed away downward in the flood.
Police have taken forward ascertaining the identities of those who died in the disasters. Only five of nine people who died in the flood and landslide have been identified as of now.
SSP Singh informed that two security personnel, six Chinese nationals and 11 general public were still missing in the disaster.
The swollen rivers swept away 64 vehicles and Miteri Pul (Friendship Bridge) along the Nepal-China border. The actual cause of the flood has not been ascertained yet while meteorologists suspect that glacial lakes in the upper area of Rasuwa might have burst leading to flooding, SSP Singh shared.
Binod Parajuli, Head of Flood Forecasting Division of the Department of Meteorology and Meteorology informed that a study is being conducted to find out the causes behind the devastating flood. The detailed research to the matter is underway since, he explained, the flood occurred without heavy rainfall.