Kathmandu, Sept 8:
The death toll from the devastating flash floods that swept across Nepal has surged to 1,356, with rescue teams continuing a grim search for nearly 5,000 people still missing, authorities said as the Himalayan nation struggled to cope with one of its worst natural disasters in decades.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 4,996 people remain unaccounted for, including at least 589 foreign nationals. Around 13,400 people have so far been rescued, but the scale of destruction and difficult terrain continue to hamper search and recovery operations.
The disaster was triggered on August 26 when a massive ice-and-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border blocked a river and created a temporary natural dam. When the blockage gave way, a huge volume of water, rocks, mud and debris surged downstream through the Bhotekoshi river system, devastating settlements in northern and central Nepal. Preliminary scientific assessments indicate that the debris-laden flood was exceptionally destructive because of the enormous amount of sediment and rock carried by the torrent.
The flood swept through towns and villages with little warning, destroying homes, roads and bridges and severely damaging hydropower infrastructure. The Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors were among the worst affected, with the fast-moving waters carrying vehicles, buildings and other structures downstream. Earlier assessments indicated extensive damage to hydropower facilities, roads and bridges across the affected region.
A major focus of the ongoing rescue operation is the fate of hundreds of hydropower workers. Authorities have been searching damaged power projects and tunnel networks where workers may have been trapped when the flood struck. Reuters reported that officials were focusing on around 900 missing hydropower workers, with as many as 121 believed potentially trapped inside tunnels. Rescue teams have been using specialised equipment while battling unstable debris, flooding and difficult access.
The tragedy has also spread across the border into China. At least 43 people were reported killed on the Chinese side, while more than 500 remained missing in Tibet, according to Chinese media reports. The destruction around the Nepal-Tibet border has affected important roads and infrastructure and severely disrupted movement through the region.
The identification of victims has emerged as one of the biggest challenges facing authorities. With bodies recovered from remote and heavily damaged areas, many families are still waiting for confirmation of the fate of their relatives. NDRRMA said only 98 bodies had been identified and handed over to families as of Monday, leaving thousands facing prolonged uncertainty.
The humanitarian crisis has been compounded by the destruction of transportation links and critical infrastructure. Roads and bridges washed away by the floods have made it difficult for rescue teams to reach isolated communities and transport relief material. The damage to hydropower projects has also raised concerns about electricity supplies and the broader economic impact of the disaster.
The disaster has triggered growing scrutiny of Nepal’s early-warning and disaster preparedness systems. Scientific assessments indicate that the flood was generated by a sudden high-altitude ice and rock collapse rather than conventional heavy rainfall. The extraordinary speed of the resulting torrent meant that communities downstream had little time to react.
The catastrophe has also intensified concerns over the growing risks posed by climate change in the Himalayas. Nepal has argued that countries with relatively small contributions to global emissions are facing some of the most severe consequences of a warming climate. President Ram Chandra Paudel has called for greater international action on climate justice as the country confronts the enormous human and economic cost of the disaster.
International assistance has been mobilised, with foreign rescue teams and humanitarian agencies supporting Nepal’s efforts. Rescue personnel from countries including India, China, South Korea and the United States have contributed to search and relief operations. Nepal has also sought specialised equipment, including drones, DNA-testing kits and emergency infrastructure, to strengthen the recovery effort.
As rescue teams continue digging through tonnes of mud and debris, the priority remains finding survivors, recovering bodies and reaching communities cut off by the destruction. But with thousands still missing, authorities face a race against time — and the final human toll from the August 26 disaster could rise further.