The death toll from the August 26 Rasuwa flood has reached 1,369, with 5,132 people still missing and 333 currently receiving treatment in various hospitals.
After two weeks, search and rescue operations have slowed down and are now primarily focused on hydropower project tunnels. Meanwhile, government authorities have shifted their focus toward post-disaster recovery and reconstruction. Hopes remain that those trapped inside the hydropower tunnels can still be rescued alive.
The Nepal government has initiated consultations with development partners regarding post-disaster recovery and needs assessments. The meeting was attended by 20 mission heads and country directors from major donor agencies.
Earlier, Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle discussed the preliminary assessment of immediate physical damage and needs evaluation—currently being prepared by a task force formed by the National Planning Commission—alongside the Global Rapid Disaster Damage Estimation prepared by the World Bank. However, there remains a notable lack of coordination between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Displaced people living in temporary shelters are urging the government to provide temporary housing as soon as possible. The government has already formed a committee to search for suitable land to build these units and is conducting a survey to align temporary housing arrangements with the preferences of affected residents. Authorities plan to complete this survey within a week. The government faces no shortage of funds, as more than 12 billion rupees have already been deposited into the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. PM Shah received a comprehensive briefing from the heads of all security agencies regarding ongoing search, rescue, relief distribution, and medical treatment efforts.
Following the August 26 flood, Nepali leaders continue to push for climate justice. Chairman of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rabi Lamichhane, while addressing parliament, urged lawmakers to take the initiative to secure international recognition for the Himalayas as a special climate and disaster risk zone.
He also emphasized the need to secure special and simplified financial access to the Green Climate Fund for Himalayan conservation and climate adaptation. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of South-South cooperation and the development of cross-border early warning and disaster forecasting systems, adding: “By incorporating these issues, let us pass a special motion on the Himalayan Climate and Disaster Emergency.” Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba stated that the international community must deliver climate justice to Nepal, emphasizing that Nepal requires grants rather than loans for its post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah is set to make climate justice a key focus of his address at the 81st UN General Assembly, emphasizing international support and compensation for climate-vulnerable nations.
Nepal desperately needs additional equipment and supplies to strengthen its ongoing rescue and response operations. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these items include high-capacity drones, LiDAR systems, Bailey bridges, epidemic-prevention supplies, DNA testing kits, underwater drones, portable generators, high-capacity surge pumps, laboratory freezers, and mud/tunnel rescue suits, among others. These requests have been formally communicated to international partners, and close coordination is underway to facilitate the timely mobilization of the required assistance.
Government officials are working around the clock to restore road, electricity, and telecommunication connectivity to affected areas, as well as ensuring the timely delivery of relief supplies. Along the Galchhi–Trishuli road section, the installation of an Acrow Bridge over the Tadi River at Devighat has reached 15 bays, with work on the remaining four bays progressing rapidly.
Similarly, the Nepali Army has initiated the construction of an approximately 250-meter suspension bridge connecting Trishuli Bazaar from the lower section of the Dhunge Buddha Temple. Road and site clearance operations are also actively underway in various areas using excavators in both Dhunge and Devighat.
The international community has shown great generosity in providing humanitarian assistance to Nepal. Support has been received from immediate neighbors, friendly nations, international organizations, and philanthropists. Contributors include India, China, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, Qatar, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Maldives, Norway, Israel, Canada, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand, Denmark, Switzerland, Ireland, the Czech Republic, France, as well as the European Union, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, United Nations and its specialized agencies, among others.
Forensic teams from India, China, Japan, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea have joined the Nepal Police and other relevant authorities to accelerate DNA collection, analysis, and victim identification efforts.
The August 26 flood has dealt a severe blow to Nepal’s economy. Initial estimates indicate that the floods caused losses amounting to 800 billion rupees. According to Finance Minister Wagle, the flood has impacted approximately 13 percent of the country's GDP.
Over the past decade, the major economic shocks experienced by Nepal include the 2015 earthquake, the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing global conflicts, last year’s Gen Z movement, and the August 26 flood.
President Ram Chandra Poudel has requested government ministers to prioritize managing affected citizens, repairing critical road and transport infrastructure, and advancing recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Kamal Dev Bhattarai\ Kathmandu
