Bhotekoshi-Trishuli Floods: 987 Bodies Found, 3,916 Still Missing — Rescue Efforts Intensify as International Aid Arrives

1 September 2026 | Kathmandu, Rasuwa, Chitwan, Nuwakot — Updated 23:45 GMT

The bodies of 987 people swept away by floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers of Rasuwa have been found. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has released details as of Tuesday morning, stating that 987 people have died in the floods and 3,916 people are still missing.

According to the authority, 27 of the deceased are in Rasuwa, 95 in Nuwakot, 55 in Dhading, 65 in Gorkha, 216 in Nawalparasi East, 170 in Nawalparasi West, 38 in Tanahun and 321 in Chitwan. Some of them have only partial human organs.

About 500 of the missing hydropower workers at projects damaged by the flooding in Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts are thought to be trapped in tunnels built to control the flow of water. As rescue efforts drag on, experts fear the chances of finding survivors in tunnels are diminishing as oxygen levels fall.

Following the floods in Nepal, 15 international aid and relief flights have arrived in Nepal carrying relief materials and rescue teams from friendly countries and international organizations. According to officials, the flow of relief supplies to Nepal is still ongoing.

Welcome to the latest news — where rescue efforts, international solidarity, and the search for the missing continue across Nepal's devastated northern region.

Death Toll Reaches 987 as 3,916 Remain Missing Across Nepal

The bodies of 987 people swept away by floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers of Rasuwa have been found. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has released details as of Tuesday morning, stating that 987 people have died in the floods and 3,916 people are still missing.

According to the authority, 27 of the deceased are in Rasuwa, 95 in Nuwakot, 55 in Dhading, 65 in Gorkha, 216 in Nawalparasi East, 170 in Nawalparasi West, 38 in Tanahun and 321 in Chitwan. Some of them have only partial human organs.

The missing include 639 people from the hydropower project, 865 from Rasuwa, 1558 from Nuwakot, 583 foreign nationals, 25 police, 45 army, 13 armed police, 15 customs office, 3 immigration office, 164 Nepalis who went on a tour with foreign tourists, and 3 from Langtang National Park, according to the NEA.

Today alone, the bodies of 22 people have been brought to Kathmandu from Rasuwa for postmortem. 21,011 security personnel have been mobilized for search and rescue. The NEA has stated that 11,814 people have been rescued so far. So far, 253 foreign nationals have been rescued by helicopter.

Management of 23 Out of 57 Bodies Found in Dhading Completed

All procedures have been completed and management of 23 bodies and human organs found on the banks of the Dhading section of the Trishuli River after the Bhotekoshi flood and could not be identified in Dhading. A total of 23 bodies, including complete bodies and various body parts, have been managed in a large community forest in Gajuri Rural Municipality-5.

During the post-disaster search and rescue, 57 bodies and human parts were found on the river banks of Dhading area so far. After the identity of 1 of those found was revealed, the necessary procedures were completed and handed over to the relatives. Similarly, 27 bodies and parts were sent to Pokhara and 6 to Kathmandu for further investigation, identification and identification, while the remaining 23 unidentified bodies were managed in Dhading itself.

Prakash Dahal, Information Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Dhading, informed that the management of the unidentified bodies was not done in a hurry but only after completing all legal and scientific procedures. According to him, the management of the bodies was done by fully following the body management protocol, including collecting the deed, conducting a post-mortem, and collecting DNA samples to make it easier for relatives to identify them in the future.

500+ Workers Feared Trapped in Hydropower Tunnels as Oxygen Levels Drop

About 500 of the missing hydropower workers at projects damaged by the flooding in Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts are thought to be trapped in tunnels built to control the flow of water. As rescue efforts drag on, experts fear the chances of finding survivors in tunnels are diminishing as oxygen levels fall.

Some workers called for help when flooding started on Wednesday and those who had managed to escape tunnels said many of their colleagues were still trapped, said Mohan Kumar Dangi, the president of the Nepal Independent Power Producers' Association.

Rescue efforts have been complicated by difficult terrain, persistently high flood waters and difficult weather. With more than 40 bridges destroyed, rescuers are relying on helicopters, while India and China are sending prefabricated truss bridges to help restore access.

The swollen Trishuli River has also continued to change course unpredictably, making planning a challenge. Areas that were dry one day are flooded the next, and further floods are a constant concern.

Nepali officials said on Monday that the focus was on reaching the 933 people missing from hydropower plants. "A large amount of debris has been deposited and that is posing us a big challenge to open the tunnels," the Nepal army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet told Reuters.

About 250 people were rescued from the Upper Trishuli hydroelectric project over the weekend, and army engineers began blasting operations at the site to rescue another 42 workers thought be missing.

61 Bodies Found in Timure in a Single Day as Search Operations Expand

On the sixth day of the flood, search and rescue work has intensified in the Timure area of Rasuwa. 61 bodies have been found in the area in a single day. Armed Police Force spokesperson Netra Bahadur Karki said that search and rescue has been intensified with the deployment of additional manpower via helicopter and a large number of bodies have been found.

Except for one or two houses, the Timure market has been washed away by the flood. A large number of bodies have been found in the debris of the market area. A forensic team has also been deployed in the area since Monday. The bodies found there are being brought to Kathmandu by helicopter.

Search and rescue work has finally begun in various areas of Rasuwa after 6 days due to the destruction of the road network by the flood. Rescue work was delayed after the flood swept away even the police offices in those areas. Locals complain that security personnel are still unable to reach some places in Rasuwa.

15 International Relief Flights Arrive in Nepal as Global Community Rallies Support

Following the floods in Nepal, 15 international aid and relief flights have arrived in Nepal from Bhadra Wednesday to today, carrying relief materials and rescue teams from friendly countries and international organizations. According to officials, the flow of relief supplies to Nepal is still ongoing. According to an official from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the flights were from India, China, the US, Qatar, South Korea, Oman and Malta.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said that the government is firmly and actively engaged in the search, rescue, treatment, relief and safe management of the flood-affected people.

Prime Minister Shah mentioned that the flood in the Bhotekoshi River is not normal. "The avalanche in the Himalayan region is the biggest disaster in the region. This incident indicates that the risks we face in the Himalayan region are increasing with climate change. Therefore, the region must be vigilant, and at the same time, it is time for us to strongly raise the issue of the disasters we are facing due to climate change before the international community," he said.

The government is currently still focused on search and rescue in the affected areas. At the same time, the collection and distribution of relief for the citizens of the affected areas is also a priority for the government. Prime Minister Shah said that relief materials received from organizations and ordinary citizens in various places in the country, including Kathmandu, are being collected and delivered to the affected citizens.

Stating that the international community is also helping in this work, Prime Minister Shah informed that so far, assistance has been received from friendly countries including India, China, the US, the UAE, Qatar, Japan, Switzerland, and Australia.

New Route to Kathmandu via Hetauda Established as Prithvi Highway Remains Blocked

The District Administration Office, Makawanpur, has implemented a new traffic management plan to make Hetauda-Kathmandu traffic safe and orderly after the Prithvi Highway was blocked due to the landslide. The administration has made the new route management effective from Bhadra 16 after analyzing the traffic volume, capacity of alternative roads and safety of passengers in the last two days.

According to the District Administration Office, Makawanpur, most of the vehicles coming to and going from Kathmandu are operating via Hetauda after the closure of the Prithvi Highway. Therefore, the new arrangement has been implemented after the heavy traffic on the Tribhuvan Highway, Kanti Lokpath and Bhimphedi-Kulekhani Road.

According to the new arrangement, all goods vehicles up to 10 wheels and large passenger vehicles will have to use the Tribhuvan Highway when going to Kathmandu. On the way back, arrangements have been made to come to Hetauda via Kanti Lokpath.

Prime Minister Shah said that the area across Trishuli in Nuwakot, which was affected by the floods, has been reconnected to the road network. A road has been put into operation along the right bank of the Trishuli River along the Galchhi-Trishuli Highway.

Prime Minister Shah said that direct road access has been restored to the district headquarters for a large number of citizens of Nuwakot. "This will further facilitate rescue, distribution of relief materials and supply of essential goods in the affected areas. Bridges in most places from Rasuwa, Nuwakot to Dhading have collapsed. This has affected movement. The government has given priority to the construction of temporary bridges in those areas."

The government currently has six 48-meter-long bailey bridges and one 70-meter-long bailey bridge. A study has been conducted to install bailey bridges at three places (Tadi River in Devighat, Trishuli Bazaar and Betrawati Bazaar). In addition, a 230-foot single-lane modular steel bridge has been received from the Government of India. India has committed to sending seven more bailey bridges and 30 bailey bridges will be received from the Chinese government soon.

Prime Minister Shah: Government Committed to Rehabilitation and Recovery

Prime Minister Shah mentioned that along with search and rescue in the affected areas, the government has also initiated discussions on how to rehabilitate the affected citizens. For that, he said that the number of affected citizens and details of physical damage have also started being collected in coordination with the local government.

"Thousands of citizens have lost their homes, families, loved ones and property. The government understands the pain they are experiencing. The way forward is to alleviate their pain and lead them back to normal life through rehabilitation. The government will work to rehabilitate them by making them mentally and physically strong. The process of raising the necessary financial resources for rehabilitation is ongoing," said Prime Minister Shah.

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