Nepal flash floods death toll hits 1,357 after avalanche near Tibet border

Kathmandu,UPDATED: Sep 8, 2026 15:56 IST

The death toll from the flash floods in Nepal rose to 1,357 on Tuesday as more bodies were recovered from affected areas, authorities said. Rescue teams are still searching for 5,326 people, while 13,583 people have been rescued so far, according to the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

The floods were triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, which sent the Bhotekoshi River surging downstream. The floods washed away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges, and also damaged hydropower projects across northern and central Nepal.

According to the authority, the joint command of the security forces recovered 363 bodies from Chitawan district, 223 from Nawalparasi East, 222 from Nawalparasi West and 197 from Nuwakot. It also recovered 169 bodies from Rasuwa, 75 from Gorkha, 70 from Dhading and 38 from Tanahu.

So far, 102 bodies have been identified and handed over to family members after due legal formalities, the authority said. Around 3,500 people were staying in government-run holding centres across Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading as of Monday. Many others displaced by the floods have taken shelter in schools, temples, monasteries, empty office buildings, community buildings and tents set up in forested areas.

Major rescue operations are also under way at hydropower projects in flood-hit districts, where 121 men are believed to be trapped in underground tunnels. On the Chinese side, the disaster has killed at least 43 people, while more than 500 people remain missing in Tibet, according to Chinese media reports.

The floods have caused heavy loss of life and widespread damage in Nepal, with rescue work continuing, thousands still missing and many displaced people staying in temporary shelters.

With PTI Inputs

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