Nepal ends search and rescue after flood, focuses on rehabilitation

Nepal has ended the search and rescue operation for those still missing ​after the devastating flood in August that killed at least ‌1,455 people, officials said on Monday.
At least 5,285 people were still missing after the August 26 flood originating at ​Nepal’s border with China's Tibet region. Another 13,795 ​people were rescued.
“We are moving from the ⁠search and rescue phase to the search and ​rehabilitation phase,” Phanindra Paudel, chief of the National Emergency ​Operation Centre, told Reuters. He said authorities were considering how to legally declare the missing persons dead to allow their ​families or relatives to complete insurance, banking ​and other legal formalities.
“We are initiating due processes to complete ‌required ⁠legal formalities,” Paudel said.
Dharam Raj Uprety, chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, said authorities would no longer actively search for ​bodies but would ​recover ⁠any remains, property or other valuables found during the rehabilitation process. Uprety ​said emergency rescues would still be ​carried out ⁠if needed.
The flood also destroyed 12 hydroelectric projects, roads, bridges, farms and settlements.