Nepal floods death toll over 730; 3,000 still untraceable
The devastating flash floods in Nepal have claimed more than 730 lives and over 3,000 people, many of them Indian and foreign tourists, are still missing, officials said
Kathmandu: The devastating flash floods in Nepal have claimed more than 730 lives and over 3,000 people, many of them Indian and foreign tourists, are still missing, officials said.
"Nepal’s flood death toll has jumped to 734", the Nepal Disaster Authority said even as rescue and relief efforts continue across affected areas.
Search teams continued to recover bodies swept downstream by raging rivers, with some found as far away as Nepal’s border with India. Chitwan and Nawalparasi East are among the hardest-hit areas, while dozens of bodies have also been recovered in Gorkha, Dhading and Nuwakot following the overflow of the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, major waterways originating in the Himalayas.
The flash flood in Nepal was triggered by a rock slide near the Nepal-Tibet border, badly damaging a dozen hydropower projects and washing away several villages and bridges in Rasuwa, Dhading, Nuwakot, and Chitawan districts on August 26, 2026.
The massive flood entered into Trishuli river through Bhote Koshi in Timure due to the rock slide and swelling Lhende river situated in Nepal-Tibet border, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Nepal.
'Govt on High Alert'
In a Facebook post Saturday, Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah said his government remains on high alert and will work at full capacity for relief and rehabilitation after the August 26 Bhote Koshi River floods.
Shah outlined a multi-agency response to floods affecting Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading, saying the safety of citizens remains the top priority. He asserted that “protecting the lives of every affected citizen remains the government’s top priority.”
Balen Shah highlighted the scale of search and rescue operations conducted under adverse weather and severe geographical conditions.
“7,514 people have been successfully rescued through air and sightways till 5:30 today. Among which 279 people trapped in various hydropower project areas have been rescued while Nepali army continues to rescue efforts in the rest of the areas. Indian and Chinese experts are engaged in coordination with Nepali Army in rescue,” he said.
“There are 236 flights so far using 16 helicopters from Nepali Army and private sectors for rescue operations in the affected areas. 18,708 security personnel have been deployed in the affected areas including Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force,” he added.
Helplines for Indians stranded in Tibet-Nepal border floods
India said 320 of its citizens remain unaccounted for in Nepal, making Indians the largest known group of foreign nationals still missing. Nagpur in Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Ranchi in Jharkhand and other parts of India are said to among those missing in Nepal.
The Indian Embassy in China issued an advisory providing contact numbers for Indian nationals stranded in flash floods.
The post said, “Following the recent flash floods and mudslides in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), People’s Republic of China, TAR authorities have established two dedicated 24-hour English-language hotlines to assist families seeking information about missing foreign nationals.
The hotlines can be reached at 0086-891-6817165 and 0086-183-0802-6705.
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