Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has assured flood-hit communities in Nuwakot that the government will not allow a shortage of resources to hamper rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

“We will make sure there is no shortage of resources,” Wagle said during a meeting with local representatives and political leaders in Nuwakot on Saturday. He urged officials to focus on meeting the needs of affected people without worrying about whether the central government would provide sufficient funds and other resources.

Wagle arrived in Nuwakot early Saturday and visited the relief and rescue command post in Bidur, where he was briefed on ongoing rescue and relief operations.

Lieutenant General Ranjit Thapa, who is overseeing the rescue operation, said rescuing missing people alive remained the first priority. He said rescue teams had been working since Wednesday and had now intensified efforts to reach people believed to be trapped inside tunnels at hydropower projects in Nuwakot and neighbouring Rasuwa district.

The military also briefed Wagle on the need for Bailey bridges in flood-affected areas to restore access.

Wagle inspected an aerial rescue centre and a relief collection and distribution centre at the Nepali Army’s Gauthali barracks. He also met families who had come to the rescue centre seeking information about relatives believed to be trapped at hydropower projects.

The families urged the minister to ensure that their relatives were rescued as soon as possible. Wagle said the rescue of people trapped inside tunnels was being given the highest priority and urged the families to trust the Nepali Army and other security agencies involved in the operation.

Wagle later visited Dhunge Bazaar and Devighat, two areas heavily damaged by the flood. He met affected residents, assessed the destruction and listened to their concerns about relief and reconstruction.

At Devighat, he told residents that the government would continue efforts to locate missing family members and provide relief, medical treatment and rehabilitation.

He also inspected a damaged bridge linking Devighat and Jiling along the Galchhi-Rasuwagadhi road and visited a holding centre at Chandrajyoti School, where people rescued from Devighat were staying.

Wagle spoke with residents who had been rescued from the floodwaters and checked on their health. He also met an Armed Police Force medical team treating survivors and asked about the availability of medical supplies and other resources.

Later, Wagle and Communications Minister Bikram Timilsina met Nuwakot representatives and political leaders to discuss coordination of rescue, relief, treatment and rehabilitation efforts.

At a final security briefing at the Nepali Army’s Bidur command centre, Wagle was briefed by Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Timilsina and senior security officials on the day’s operations.

According to the briefing, rescuing people trapped inside hydropower tunnels remains the main priority. Security teams led by the Nepali Army, with personnel from Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force, are also stepping up the collection of bodies and distribution of relief supplies.