Nepal Floods: Death Toll Crosses 900, 4,247 Remain Out of Contact; PM Shah Calls Disaster ‘Unimaginable’

August 31, 2026

Kathmandu: The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in Nepal has crossed the 900-mark, with bodies continuing to be recovered from riverbanks in several districts as rescue and relief operations remain underway.

According to the latest update issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) on Monday, the number of bodies recovered has risen to 903. Southern Chitwan district has recorded the highest number of recovered bodies, with 272 corpses recovered so far.

Local authorities in Chitwan have buried most of the recovered bodies at Devghat, at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Trishuli rivers, as a precaution against the spread of disease.

Before the burials, authorities collected DNA samples from the bodies to facilitate identification in the future, according to the District Administration Office, Chitwan.

4,247 people remain out of contact

The NDRRMA said as many as 4,247 people remain out of contact, including 592 foreign nationals.

As many as 933 people working at various hydropower projects along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors also remain out of contact. Authorities are continuing efforts to rescue workers believed to be trapped inside tunnels at several hydropower projects, with assistance from Indian and Chinese technical teams.

Personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, along with other government employees, have also remained out of contact since the disaster struck areas along the Nepal-China border.

The disaster has left 267 people injured, while 156 of them have already been discharged following treatment.

According to the NDRRMA, a total of 10,451 people have been rescued so far, including 252 foreign nationals and 3,344 Nepalis rescued through aerial operations by the Nepal Army.

PM Shah calls floods an ‘unimaginable’ disaster

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has described the devastating floods as an “unimaginable” disaster, acknowledging the enormous scale of the destruction and the difficulty in assessing the full extent of the losses.

Shah said the government had mobilised the entire state machinery for rescue, relief and recovery operations, with the response being carried out on a war footing.

The Prime Minister has stressed the need to prioritise saving lives, rescuing stranded people and providing immediate assistance to those affected by the disaster.

The government is also coordinating with neighbouring countries and technical teams for specialised rescue operations, particularly at hydropower facilities where workers are believed to remain trapped.

India and China have provided technical assistance for tunnel-rescue operations, while authorities continue efforts to trace people who remain unaccounted for.

Over 20,000 security personnel deployed

The NDRRMA said 20,819 security personnel have been mobilised for search, rescue and relief operations.

The deployment includes 8,722 Nepal Army personnel, 7,894 Nepal Police personnel and 4,203 Armed Police Force personnel.

Rescue teams continue to face difficult terrain, damaged infrastructure and the risk of further flooding in affected areas. Authorities have warned people living in vulnerable locations to remain alert and follow official instructions.

The catastrophe has caused widespread damage to roads, bridges, settlements and hydropower infrastructure, particularly in areas along the Nepal-Tibet border.

With thousands of people still out of contact, rescue teams are continuing searches across affected districts while authorities work to identify recovered bodies and reunite survivors with their families.

The situation remains fluid, and casualty and missing-person figures are expected to change as search and rescue operations continue.