Last updated: August 31, 2026 | 09:53 UTC
Nepal remains in a large-scale search, rescue, recovery and relief operation following the August 26 flash floods that swept through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems.
The latest National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority assessment, issued at 09:00 Nepal Standard Time on August 31, reports 903 recovered bodies and 4,247 people still missing. It also reports 267 injuries and 10,451 people rescued.
Authorities are continuing searches across eight affected districts while monitoring additional flood and geological hazards in the Bhote Koshi basin. Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology continues to operate its river and warning-monitoring systems.
Major Developments We’re Following
- NDRRMA’s latest 09:00 NST assessment reports 903 recovered bodies.
- 4,247 people remain missing, according to the same assessment.
- 10,451 people have been rescued from flood- and landslide-affected areas.
- 267 people have been injured.
- More than 20,800 security personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force are involved in search and rescue operations.
- The Nepal Army has carried out 411 helicopter sorties, including rescue operations involving Nepali and foreign nationals.
- Authorities continue monitoring the Bhote Koshi–Trishuli river system and the potential effects of upstream blockages and unstable lakes.
What We Know
- Event: Major flash flood and associated debris flows
- Initial event: August 26, 2026
- Primary affected area: Rasuwa
- Affected river systems: Bhote Koshi and Trishuli
- Affected districts: Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Nawalparasi East, Nawalparasi West, Tanahun and Chitwan.
- Bodies recovered: 903
- Missing: 4,247
- Injured: 267
- Rescued: 10,451
- Security personnel involved: More than 20,800
- Helicopter sorties: 411
- Foreign nationals among missing: 592, according to the latest government figures reported by The Kathmandu Post.
- Roads, bridges, hydropower facilities, homes and other critical infrastructure have been damaged.
- Search and recovery operations remain active.
What We Don’t Know
- The final death toll remains unknown.
- The final number of missing people remains unresolved.
- Some people currently listed as missing may later be located.
- The full extent of damage in remote mountain communities remains under assessment.
- The final number of foreign nationals affected remains subject to verification.
- The complete economic cost of the disaster has not been established.
- The precise sequence of geological and hydrological events that produced the initial flood remains under scientific assessment.
Public Safety Information
Nepal’s disaster authorities continue to monitor the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli systems following renewed changes in river conditions.
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology maintains real-time river monitoring and warning services. Its current system provides river-level information and active warning information for monitored locations.
Authorities have previously warned residents and rescue personnel to remain alert around the Bhote Koshi following renewed rises in water levels and concerns about an upstream blockage.
JournosNews should publish evacuation or emergency instructions only when issued by the relevant Nepalese authority.
Live Updates
August 30, 10:00 UTC — Government Maintains Large-Scale Search Operation
Nepal continued its nationwide search, rescue and relief operation as security agencies worked across the flood-affected districts.
The Government of Nepal said saving lives, locating missing people, rescuing survivors and providing emergency relief remained the national priority.
August 30, 11:00 UTC — Security Forces Continue Rescue Operations
Nepal’s Army, Police and Armed Police Force continued ground and air operations in communities affected by the flood and landslides.
The response includes searches for people reported missing and the movement of emergency supplies to communities where roads and bridges remain damaged.
August 30, 12:00 UTC — Government Reports 734 Recovered Bodies
The Government of Nepal’s Foreign Secretary reported that 734 bodies had been recovered at the time of the government’s August 30 briefing.
The government emphasized that casualty and missing-person figures were continuing to change as search and verification operations progressed.
August 30, 13:00 UTC — More Than 8,000 People Reported Rescued
The August 30 government briefing reported that more than 8,186 people had been rescued, including more than 261 foreign nationals.
The government said rescue operations were continuing in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan.
August 30, 14:00 UTC — International Tunnel Rescue Experts Deployed
The Government of Nepal said tunnel-rescue experts from India, China and South Korea had been mobilized to support operations involving people trapped in hydropower tunnels.
The government said approximately 19,000 security personnel and 16 helicopters were deployed in affected areas at that stage of the response.
August 30, 15:00 UTC — Humanitarian Relief Continues
Government relief operations continued to provide emergency medical care, food, safe drinking water, temporary shelter and other essential supplies.
The Government of Nepal said separate teams involving security personnel, provincial and local governments, medical personnel and emergency responders were operating in affected districts.
August 30, 16:00 UTC — IFRC Emergency Appeal Reaches CHF 25 Million
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched a CHF 25 million Emergency Appeal to support the Nepal Red Cross response.
IFRC estimated that around 93,000 people may have been affected, while assessments continued in hard-to-reach communities.
August 30, 17:00 UTC — Communications Remain a Response Challenge
The IFRC said communications with teams in some affected communities remained difficult because of limited telephone connectivity.
Nepal Red Cross teams were providing food, water, emergency shelter materials, first aid and other supplies while additional response teams were being mobilized.
August 30, 18:00 UTC — Renewed Bhote Koshi Risk Monitored
Authorities continued monitoring the Bhote Koshi after renewed rises in water levels.
The risk assessment included an upstream obstruction on the Lhende Khola and a lake that had formed behind the blockage. Authorities warned that a possible breach could generate another downstream flood surge.
August 30, 19:00 UTC — River Monitoring Remains Active
Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology continued monitoring river levels and warning conditions.
The department maintains real-time hydrological information and flood-warning services for river basins across Nepal.
August 30, 20:00 UTC — Search Expands Across Eight Districts
Search and recovery operations continued across the eight districts identified as affected by the disaster.
Bodies were being recovered downstream as teams continued searching river corridors and damaged communities.
August 30, 21:00 UTC — Foreign Nationals Remain Among Missing
The latest government figures indicate that hundreds of foreign nationals remain among those unaccounted for.
The Kathmandu Post reported that 592 foreign nationals were included in the latest missing-person figures. The Foreign Ministry continues coordinating with diplomatic missions and families through its emergency-control mechanisms.
August 30, 22:00 UTC — Relief Supplies Continue Moving Into Affected Areas
The Government of Nepal continued sending food, non-food items, medicines and other health supplies into affected communities.
Access remains difficult in areas where floodwaters and landslides damaged transportation infrastructure.
August 30, 23:00 UTC — Rescue Teams Continue Working in High-Risk Areas
Rescue teams continued operating in areas where unstable terrain, damaged infrastructure and changing river conditions complicated searches.
The continuing operation requires coordination between security forces, local authorities, medical teams and humanitarian organizations.
August 31, 00:00 UTC — Government Continues Missing-Person Verification
Authorities continued reconciling missing-person reports as rescue teams gained access to additional locations.
NDRRMA maintains a dedicated online record of people reported missing or found safe, with records supplied by district authorities.
August 31, 01:00 UTC — Bodies Continue to Be Recovered
Search teams continued recovering bodies from multiple downstream districts.
The latest figures show Chitwan, Nawalparasi East and Nawalparasi West among the districts with the highest numbers of recovered bodies.
August 31, 02:00 UTC — Emergency Operations Continue Overnight
Search, rescue and relief operations continued as authorities worked to reach missing people and identify recovered remains.
The scale of the missing-person list remains one of the central challenges facing the response.
August 31, 03:15 UTC — Latest NDRRMA Assessment Reports 903 Deaths
NDRRMA’s latest assessment, issued at 09:00 Nepal Standard Time, reported 903 recovered bodies.
The new figure represents a substantial increase from the 734 bodies reported by the Foreign Ministry the previous day, reflecting continuing recovery operations and updated verification.
August 31, 03:15 UTC — Missing Figure Reaches 4,247
The same NDRRMA assessment reported 4,247 people still missing.
The government continues to emphasize that missing-person figures remain subject to verification as authorities reconcile district-level records and information from families and institutions.
August 31, 03:15 UTC — 10,451 People Reported Rescued
NDRRMA reported that 10,451 people had been rescued from areas affected by flooding and landslides.
The figure includes people rescued through ground and air operations conducted by Nepal’s security agencies and response teams.
August 31, 03:15 UTC — 267 Injured
The latest national assessment reports 267 people injured.
At least some injured people have already been discharged after receiving medical treatment, according to reporting based on NDRRMA data.
August 31, 03:15 UTC — More Than 20,800 Security Personnel Deployed
Radio Nepal, citing NDRRMA, reported that more than 20,800 personnel from the Nepal Police, Nepal Army and Armed Police Force are involved in search-and-rescue operations.
The scale of the deployment reflects the continuing effort to reach isolated communities and locate missing people.
August 31, 03:15 UTC — 411 Helicopter Sorties Conducted
Nepal’s response has included extensive helicopter operations.
Radio Nepal reported 411 helicopter sorties, with the Nepal Army having rescued thousands of Nepali citizens and foreign nationals by air.
August 31, 04:00 UTC — Identification of Recovered Remains Continues
Authorities continue working to identify recovered bodies and human remains.
The Kathmandu Post reported that unidentified remains were being held at hospitals in affected districts while identification efforts continued.
August 31, 05:00 UTC — Relief Funding Reaches Affected Districts
Radio Nepal reported that the government had allocated NPR 10 million each to Rasuwa and Nuwakot and NPR 5 million to Dhading for relief operations.
A further NPR 67.5 million had been made available to 15 affected local governments.
August 31, 06:00 UTC — Food and Medical Supplies Continue
Authorities continued sending food, non-food items, medicines and health supplies to affected areas.
Relief operations remain focused on communities affected by destroyed roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
August 31, 07:00 UTC — Scientific Monitoring Continues
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology continues to operate real-time river monitoring and warning systems.
The agency’s current monitoring platform remains active as authorities assess river conditions following the flood disaster.
August 31, 08:00 UTC — Search Operations Continue Across Affected Districts
Search and rescue operations remain active across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Nawalparasi East, Nawalparasi West, Tanahun and Chitwan.
Bodies and missing-person reports continue to be recorded across the downstream river corridor.
August 31, 09:53 UTC — Current Situation
Nepal remains in an active recovery and search operation.
The latest NDRRMA figures available report 903 recovered bodies, 4,247 people missing, 267 injured and 10,451 rescued. More than 20,800 security personnel remain involved in the response, while helicopter operations and relief distribution continue.
Emergency Response
The Government of Nepal remains responsible for the national search, rescue, relief and recovery operation.
The Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force are conducting ground and air operations, supported by provincial and local governments, health workers and humanitarian organizations.
Tunnel-rescue specialists from India, China and South Korea have also been mobilized to support operations around affected hydropower facilities.
Humanitarian Response
The IFRC has launched a CHF 25 million Emergency Appeal to support the Nepal Red Cross Society.
The organization estimates that approximately 93,000 people may have been affected, while assessments continue in difficult-to-access locations.
Nepal Red Cross teams are distributing water, food, shelter materials, first-aid supplies, hygiene items and other emergency assistance.
Infrastructure and Recovery
The flood damaged roads, bridges, hydropower facilities and other critical infrastructure along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors.
The government is continuing infrastructure assessment while prioritizing life-saving operations. The final cost of reconstruction remains unknown.
Scientific Assessment
WHO reports that the flood affected communities along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors and that preliminary information indicates a sudden surge from the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, possibly associated with an upstream ice avalanche and temporary damming of the Lhende River.
WHO stresses that assessments remain ongoing.
ICIMOD has also been investigating high-altitude geological processes associated with the event. The precise causal sequence should therefore remain described as under investigation unless a competent scientific authority establishes it conclusively.
What Changed During This 24-Hour Window
Deaths:
734 → 903
Missing:
Approximately 2,498 → 4,247
Rescued:
More than 8,186 → 10,451
Injured:
267
Security personnel:
Approximately 19,000 → 20,800+
Helicopter operations:
16 helicopters / earlier operations → 411 sorties reported
These changes should be understood as new official assessments, not Journos News corrections.
Sources / References
Government of Nepal: Government of Nepal official portal; National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Nepal Police; Nepal Army; Department of Hydrology and Meteorology; Rasuwa Flood Rescue Portal.
Scientific and humanitarian institutions: ICIMOD; WHO; IFRC; Nepal Red Cross Society; United Nations agencies.
Professional reporting: Radio Nepal, The Kathmandu Post and other professional news organizations are used to supplement primary-source reporting where necessary.
