Nepal Flash Floods: Death Toll Rises to 903, Over 4,200 Missing as Rescue Teams Search Hydropower Tunnels

Nepal’s death toll from last week’s devastating floods and mudslides has risen to 903, while more than 4,200 people remain missing, as rescue teams work to reach hundreds of people believed to be trapped inside blocked hydropower project tunnels. The latest figures underline the scale of the disaster that struck along the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26.

The disaster sent a massive torrent of ice, rock, mud and debris through valley towns and villages in Nepal and across the border into China. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has continued to update casualty and rescue figures as teams search affected areas and recover bodies. Nepal Flash Floods: Death Toll Rises to 781, Over 2,500 Still Missing.

Nepal Flash Floods Death Toll

Nepal Flash Floods Death Toll And Missing Persons

According to the latest Rasuwa Flood: Search, Rescue and Relief Update issued by NDRRMA as of August 31, the number of people reported missing has risen to 4,247. The figures are being updated as authorities continue to receive information from affected districts and hydropower projects.

The number of people missing includes workers and others who were in areas hit by the floods, landslides and debris flows. Earlier figures had put the number of missing people at around 2,500, but the count has risen as authorities compile and verify reports from different locations. Nepal Floods: 7 Bodies Recovered From Gandak River in UP’s Maharajganj and Kushinagar.

Rescue Teams Search Hydropower Tunnels

A major focus of the rescue operation is the search for people believed to be trapped inside hydropower project tunnels. Rescue teams have been working through mud and debris to locate tunnel entrances and establish access to people who may still be inside.

The tunnel operations are particularly difficult because of the volume of material deposited by the floods and the continuing risk posed by unstable terrain and additional flooding. Nepalese security forces are leading much of the search and rescue operation, with technical assistance from neighbouring countries being provided for some of the more complex tunnel operations.

Disaster Began Along Nepal-Tibet Border

The disaster struck on Wednesday along the Nepal-Tibet border, sending a massive torrent of ice, rock, mud and debris through valley towns and villages in Nepal and across the border into China.

The unprecedented deluge, blamed on a glacier collapse, has caused widespread destruction and left hundreds of people dead or unaccounted for. The flooding along the Bhote Koshi River and its downstream areas swept away roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure, leaving several communities difficult to access.

Rescue operations have been complicated by difficult Himalayan terrain, heavy debris and continuing weather-related risks. Authorities have been using security personnel, helicopters and other resources to reach affected communities and evacuate survivors. Fresh landslides and damaged roads have also complicated access to some areas, while rescuers face the possibility of further flooding in already devastated valleys.

The casualty figures have increased rapidly since the August 26 disaster as bodies have been recovered downstream.

On August 30, Nepal’s disaster authorities reported hundreds of recovered bodies across several districts, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Nawalparasi and Chitwan. Chitwan recorded the largest number of recovered bodies among the affected districts.

The changing figures reflect the difficulty of identifying victims and determining the status of people reported missing across a wide disaster zone.

The flooding also crossed into China, where authorities have reported deaths and missing people in areas affected by the disaster. The cross-border nature of the catastrophe has complicated efforts to establish a complete picture of casualties and missing people, particularly in areas where access and information remain limited.

Thousands of rescue personnel remain involved in the response, while authorities continue efforts to locate missing people, recover bodies and provide assistance to survivors.

The search for people believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels remains one of the most urgent operations. Rescue teams are working to clear access points and assess whether people inside can still be reached.

With the death toll now at 903 and thousands still missing, authorities continue to treat the situation as an ongoing search, rescue and relief operation rather than a concluded disaster response.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 31, 2026 10:43 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).