The government has decided to temporarily suspend non-essential search and rescue operations in areas affected by the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods and accelerate reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. Essential search and rescue operations will continue where necessary.

The decision was made at the 21st meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, held on Sunday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

The government said the decision was based on recommendations from District Security Committees, District Disaster Management Committees and the Executive Committee of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, along with findings from field inspections of the affected areas.

The meeting also decided to recommend a budget of Rs. 559.17 billion for the implementation of 504 plans and programs proposed by various ministries and government agencies for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the affected areas. The required resources will be managed through the Ministry of Finance.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has been directed to recommend additional budgetary arrangements to the Ministry of Finance after receiving details of projects whose cost estimates have not yet been finalized or whose priorities have yet to be determined.

Prime Minister Shah said disaster management efforts were being carried out through coordination among the federal, provincial and local governments, and that the same approach would continue during the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase.

Leaders of various political parties and the chief ministers of Bagmati, Gandaki, Madhesh and Koshi provinces have expressed support for the government's reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. The government has emphasized coordination among all three levels of government and political parties to expedite recovery in the flood-affected areas.