Nepal flash floods toll hits 469 as nearly 1,000 remain missing

Flash floods from Tibet tore through central Nepal, killing hundreds and leaving many missing. The disaster has crippled bridges, hydropower sites and public life as rescuers race against time.

In Short

• Nearly 1,000 people remain missing across eight districts after Wednesday's deluge
• More than 1,500 injured and stranded people have been rescued so far
• Helicopters reached cut-off settlements as ground teams searched riverbanks downstream

The death toll from the flash floods in central Nepal rose to 469 on Friday as search and rescue operations continued for a third day, with nearly 1,000 people still missing. The floods, which originated in Tibet and swept through central Nepal on Wednesday, devastated towns and villages across multiple districts, washed away key bridges and badly hit a dozen hydropower projects.

Nepal Police said more bodies were recovered from eight districts, taking the nationwide death toll to 469. Three people were also killed in neighbouring Tibet. Authorities said 977 people have been missing since Wednesday morning, including 86 security personnel, 517 foreign tourists and 127 Nepali travellers.

According to police, 178 bodies have been recovered from Chitwan, 110 from Nawalparasi East, 44 from Gorkha, 37 from Nuwakot and 33 from Dhading. Another 28 bodies were recovered from Tanahu, 27 from Nawalparasi West and 12 from Rasuwa.

So far, 1,545 injured and stranded people have been rescued from affected areas. Of them, 84 are being treated at hospitals in Kathmandu, where families are continuing to look for missing relatives. Search and rescue work has continued with 7,451 security personnel deployed, including 2,391 from the Nepal Army, police said.

Helicopters have been used to reach cut-off areas and evacuate survivors, while ground teams continued searching riverbanks and settlements downstream, The Kathmandu Post reported. The Nepal government has also decided to halt all examinations from August 29 in view of the disaster. Education Minister and government spokesperson Sashmit Pokharel said all educational institutions had been instructed to reschedule the postponed examinations at an appropriate time.

The ministry has urged schools and colleges to provide psychological counselling for students and teachers, stay in regular contact with students and parents, and coordinate support and assistance. Meanwhile, China issued a Level-IV alert late on Thursday, saying a large barrier lake had formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers in Nepal. China's emergency response system for natural disasters has four levels, with Level-I the highest and Level-IV the lowest.

With the death toll continuing to rise, hundreds still missing and rescue teams working across affected districts, the floods have left Nepal facing a major humanitarian and infrastructure crisis, while authorities continue emergency operations and take steps to deal with the wider disruption.

With PTI Inputs

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