The government has divided the response to Wednesday’s devastating Bhotekoshi flood into 12 sectors, deploying separate teams to oversee rescue, relief, power restoration, medical response and other urgent needs.

The teams have been formed under the Rasuwa Flood Response Committee to coordinate rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of the disaster, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

The 12 teams have been assigned to oversee different aspects of the response, including emergency communications, electricity restoration, search and rescue, relief and medical response, and management of the deceased.

Likewise, separate teams are handling international aid and donor coordination, transportation and connectivity, damage and needs assessment, tracing families who have lost contact with relatives, management of relief supplies, airport coordination, and the publication of names of those rescued, missing and killed.

“A team led by Gaurav Giri, joint secretary at the Ministry of Communications, has been assigned to restore emergency communications,” said the authority in a statement. It includes representatives from Nepal Telecom, Ncell, the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

As per the authority, another team, led by Mohan Shakya, joint secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, is overseeing electricity restoration and backup power. Officials from the Nepal Electricity Authority, Nepal Oil Corporation, Nepal Police and the Home Ministry are members.

The Nepali Army is leading the search, rescue and relief team, while a health response team led by Health Ministry Joint Secretary Dr Hemant Chandra Ojha is handling emergency medical needs. The health team includes Nepali Army doctor Dr Nabin Phuyal and Saurav Basyal from the Home Ministry, the authority said.

A separate team led by Health Ministry official Dr Samir Adhikari has been tasked with managing the deceased. It includes representatives from Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, the Home Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The government has also formed a team led by Finance Ministry Joint Secretary Amrit Lamsal to coordinate international assistance and donors. Officials from the Foreign Ministry, Social Welfare Council, Nepali Army and Home Ministry are members.

The team overseeing transportation and connectivity is led by Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ministry Joint Secretary Dilip Bhandari. It includes officials from the Department of Roads, Nepali Army, Road Board Nepal, transport entrepreneurs, Nepal Police and the Home Ministry.

Meanwhile, a team led by National Planning Commission Joint Secretary Arjun Bhandari is assigned with assessing the damage and immediate needs. Officials from the Home Ministry and Department of Statistics are part of the team.

Another team, led by Home Ministry Joint Secretary Lokendra Adhikari, is searching for families who have lost contact with their relatives and coordinating assistance for them. It includes personnel from Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepali Army.

The government has assigned a separate team led by Home Ministry Section Officer Niranjan Prakash Niraula to manage relief supplies, including food, water and other essential items.

A team led by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Director General Mukund Dangol is coordinating airport operations. It includes representatives of the Nepali Army, private airlines and the Home Ministry.

The final team, led by Home Ministry official Fadindra Paudel, is coordinating the publication of names of people who have been rescued, remain missing or have died. Assistant chief district officers of Nuwakot and Rasuwa are working with the team.

The government says the sector-based arrangement is aimed at streamlining the response as search and rescue operations continue in the flood-affected areas.