A devastating flash flood triggered by an ice-and-rock avalanche along the Nepal-China border sent millions of tons of mud, water, and debris surging through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river basins, leaving severe destruction across eight central and southern districts.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the official death toll has reached 1,358 across Chitwan, Nawalparasi East, Nawalparasi West, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Gorkha, Dhading, and Tanahun. Body identification remains a major challenge due to severe decomposition and fragmentation, with only 102 bodies formally identified and returned to families so far. The death bodies as per the districts are as following:
- Chitwan: 363
- Nawalparasi East: 223
- Nawalparasi West: 222
- Nuwakot: 197
- Rasuwa: 170
- Gorkha: 75
- Dhading: 70
- Tanahun: 38
Nepal Police has requested relatives of missing persons to visit District Police Offices with proof of kinship and photographs to provide DNA testing samples. Meanwhile, an estimated 5,326 individuals remain missing. The missing number as per the district are as following:
- Rasuwa District: 2,860 missing (including 1,393 local residents, 1,286 from other districts, 45 Nepali Army soldiers, 25 Nepal Police officers, 12 Armed Police Force personnel, 73 civil service employees, and 26 financial institution staff).
- Nuwakot District: 1,981 residents unaccounted for, according to the District Administration Office.
- Foreign Tourists: Approximately 587 foreign nationals missing across the flood zone.
Despite the destruction, emergency services have rescued 13,583 survivors from flooded areas, while medical personnel have treated 7,037 injured individuals, the vast majority handled by field medics from the Nepali Army and Armed Police Force.
A total of 3,628 displaced survivors are currently sheltered across 37 government holding centers in Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Dhading, supported by over 150 deployed psychosocial health personnel.
Operations are being maintained by 21,146 security personnel who continue search, clearance, and supply operations, including targeted efforts at critical infrastructure sites such as the Rasuwagadhi Hydroelectric Project.
Internationally, the U.S. State Department has appointed Megan Bouldin as Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy in Kathmandu to assist in relief efforts and support affected citizens. The Nepali Army and foreign search teams are continuing rescue operations across the flooded hydropower projects.
On the financial front, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers reported that approximately NPR 12 billion—specifically NPR 11,77,67,50,261—has been deposited into government disaster relief funds as of Tuesday morning.
Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Kathmandu
