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KATHMANDU: 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.<\/p>\n
At least 5,285 people were still missing after the August 26 flood originating at Nepal\u2019s border with China\u2019s Tibet \u200cregion. Another 13,795 \u200cpeople were rescued.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are \u200cmoving from the search and rescue phase to the search and rehabilitation phase,\u201d Phanindra Paudel, chief of the National Emergency Operation Centre, told Reuters.<\/p>\n
He said authorities were considering how to legally declare the missing persons dead to \u200callow their \u200cfamilies or relatives to complete insurance, banking and \u200cother legal formalities. \u201cWe are initiating \u200cdue processes to complete required legal formalities,\u201d Paudel said.<\/p>\n
Dharam Raj Uprety, chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management \u200cAuthority, 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.<\/p>\n
The flood also destroyed 12 hydroelectric projects, roads, bridges, farms and settlements.<\/p>\n
Authorities have said they need nearly $5 billion for the early recovery and rehabilitation of the thousands of people displaced by the flood.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n