RASUWA: One week after floods and landslides triggered by the Bhote Koshi river devastated Rasuwa, local residents and elected representatives have raised serious questions over government disaster management, rescue operations, and relief distribution.
Relief supplies worth millions of rupees, including food and clothing provided by the government, non-governmental organizations, and private donors, remain stacked in military barracks and warehouses in Dhunche of Rasuwa and Battar of Nuwakot. Displaced survivors are reportedly forced to queue at military barracks to receive basic food rations instead of receiving direct aid at their settlements.
Local elected representatives, including ward chairs and rural municipality leaders, expressed dissatisfaction over being bypassed in the distribution process. In Gosaikunda Rural Municipality, local residents alleged that relief was distributed based on recommendations from a defeated election candidate rather than official local representatives. Member of Parliament Mohan Acharya stated that bypassing constitutionally recognized local governments contradicts basic disaster management principles.
Delays in rescuing workers trapped inside project tunnels for seven days have also drawn severe criticism. A Korean rescue team was granted permission only after waiting six days to reach trapped Korean and Nepali workers. Meanwhile, locals criticized top government officials, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah and the home minister, for focusing on social media updates rather than mobilizing effective ground operations such as helicopters for relief transport.
