The death toll from Nepal’s devastating flash floods has unfortunately risen to 1,344 as of Saturday, with nearly 4,900 people still missing, according to officials. Rescue teams have tirelessly worked to recover bodies in flooded districts, highlighting the tragic scale of this natural disaster.
The catastrophic floods began on August 26, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border. This avalanche sent massive volumes of water into the Bhotekoshi River, impacting downstream areas in northern and central Nepal. The floodwaters wreaked havoc, sweeping away homes, vehicles, roads, and bridges, while severely damaging several hydropower projects.
According to the Nepal National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, over 13,000 individuals have been rescued from inundated regions. The numbers show an urgent need for continued rescue efforts as authorities strive to retrieve those still unaccounted for.
Among the recovered bodies, officials reported that 758 are adults and 85 are children. Meanwhile, 501 bodies have been found with missing parts, likely due to prolonged water exposure and the weight of surrounding debris. Authorities have temporarily buried 1,030 bodies after completing essential protocols, including DNA collection efforts.
The Chitwan district has recorded the highest recovery rate, with approximately 360 bodies identified there alone. Recoveries also occurred in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, and Nawalparasi East and West. Of particular concern is the fact that one segment of the missing persons comprises more than 600 children from Rasuwa and Nuwakot.
In light of ongoing concerns, officials continue to closely monitor water levels in key rivers, including the Koshi, Narayani, Bagmati, Karnali, Mahakali, Kankai, Kamal, Kamala, Babai, Eastern Rapti, and Western Rapti. These efforts are crucial to preventing further disasters, given the saturation of the land.
On the 11th consecutive day of operations, joint rescue teams led by the Nepal Army have intensified their search and rescue efforts, with a major focus on hydropower projects where hundreds of workers are feared trapped. Notably, two survivors, Kabir Maharjan, 45, a mechanical supervisor, and Sanjay Sah, 30, a foreman, were rescued from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project.
In a collaborative effort, an Indian tunnel rescue team has created a temporary track inside the Chilime tunnel in Rasuwa district. This enhancement enables heavier rescue equipment to access the affected sections, allowing teams to reach trapped individuals more efficiently.
This disaster’s impact extends beyond Nepal, with reports indicating that at least 21 lives have been lost on the Chinese side, and more than 500 people are missing in Tibet, as confirmed by Chinese media.
Authorities continue their search operations as new bodies emerge from the floodwaters. This ongoing tragedy underscored the urgency for consistent monitoring of rising river levels as rescue teams push forward in their efforts to save lives.
