Nepal flash floods death toll crosses 1,450 as thousands remain missing

Kathmandu,UPDATED: Sep 20, 2026 17:58 IST

The death toll from the flash floods that hit Nepal on August 26 has crossed 1,450, with the Himalayan nation still struggling with the scale of the disaster and its aftermath. Nepal Police said on Sunday that 1,451 people have died so far, with more bodies continuing to be recovered from affected areas.

The floods originated near the Nepal-Tibet border and tore through towns and villages in northern and central Nepal. The Bhotekoshi River carried the floodwaters downstream, sweeping away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges and damaging hydropower projects. Police said around 6,000 people remain missing, while 13,784 people affected by the disaster have been rescued across the country.

According to the police statement, 367 bodies were recovered in Chitwan district, 236 in Rasuwa, 232 in Nawalparasi East and 222 in Nawalparasi West. Another 203 bodies were recovered in Nuwakot, 79 in Gorkha, 72 in Dhading and 38 in Tanahu. Two flood victims also died in Kathmandu hospitals while undergoing treatment.

The floods also killed 43 people on the Chinese side, where more than 500 people remain missing, according to Chinese media. In Nepal, the search for those missing has continued across river stretches, debris fields and damaged hydropower project sites in Rasuwa and neighbouring districts.

Nepal is also dealing with widespread damage left behind by the floods, with roads and bridges in large parts of the affected region badly hit. Authorities said identifying the dead has emerged as a major challenge, with only around 110 of the bodies recovered so far having been handed over to families after identification.

Officials said bodies swept downstream were often severely damaged, decomposed or recovered only in parts, making identification by face, clothing or personal belongings difficult. Nearly 1,300 bodies have been temporarily buried after DNA samples were collected, underscoring the scale of the disaster that has left thousands missing and the country still reeling from its impact.

With PTI Inputs

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