157 dead, hundreds missing as Nepal's Bhotekoshi flood becomes Himalayan disaster — 142 Indians, 53 Ukrainians, 33 Britons among unaccounted

27 August 2026 | Kathmandu, Rasuwa, Nuwakot — Updated 23:45 GMT

157 people have died so far due to floods in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa. According to the Nepal Police, 34 women, 63 men, six girls, seven boys and 47 people have not been identified so far.

According to the police, the bodies of three men have been found in Rasuwa. In addition, the bodies of six women and seven men have been found in Nuwakot, 10 women, 10 men, one girl and six people (unidentified) have been found in Dhading. The bodies of two women, eight men, one boy and eight people whose identities have been found in Gorkha.

Hundreds remain missing, including 142 Indians, 53 Ukrainians, 47 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 British, 24 Canadians, 17 Malaysians, nine South Koreans and others from more than 15 countries.

Canada's PM Mark Carney said "Canada stands ready to provide support." The US state department is closely tracking the situation and stands ready to provide assistance.

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

157 Confirmed Dead, Hundreds Missing as Flood Toll Rises

157 people have died so far due to floods in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa. According to the Nepal Police, 34 women, 63 men, six girls, seven boys and 47 people have not been identified so far.

According to the police, the bodies of three men have been found in Rasuwa. In addition, the bodies of six women and seven men have been found in Nuwakot, 10 women, 10 men, one girl and six people (unidentified) have been found in Dhading. The bodies of two women, eight men, one boy and eight people whose identities have been found in Gorkha.

According to the police, the bodies of 13 women, 18 men, one girl, four boys and 28 people whose identities have been found in Chitwan. Similarly, the bodies of one woman, five men, one girl, one boy and one person whose identities have been found in Tanahun.

Similarly, the bodies of two women, 12 men, three girls, one boy and four people whose identities have been found in Nawalparasi East.

142 Indians, 53 Ukrainians, 47 Americans Among Hundreds Missing

Hundreds remain missing, including 142 Indians, 53 Ukrainians, 47 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 British, 24 Canadians, 17 Malaysians, nine South Koreans and others from more than 15 countries.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 142 nationals from neighbouring India are missing. The missing Indians were in the country with three travel agencies: Samrat Tours + Travels, Leaf Holiday and Himalayan Glacier.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said Nepal's Tourist Police had informed them that they considered 53 Ukrainian nationals to be missing. They included a group of 46 Ukrainian tourists with whom the authorities in Nepal had lost contact, the ministry added.

Seventeen Malaysians travelling with Fishtail Tours + Travels were missing in the floods, the board said. Malaysia's foreign ministry said its embassy in Kathmandu had received reports from travel agencies suggesting they had lost contact with 11 Malaysian nationals believed to be in the Rasuwa district.

Twelve UK citizens with the Alpine Eco Trek agency are unaccounted for, the tourism board said. Nepal police have so far confirmed a total of 33 British nationals are unaccounted for in the country.

Among the missing British nationals are three men aged 65, 64 and 52, and seven women aged 44, 47, 51, 60, 63, 63 and 65, according to travel logs obtained by the Press Association.

International Community Pledges Support as Canada, US, South Korea Respond

Canada's PM Mark Carney said "Canada stands ready to provide support."

He wrote on X: "The flash floods along Nepal's Bhotekoshi River are absolutely devastating. Canadians are thinking of all those in distress right now, those who have lost a loved one, and all those who are still waiting for answers. Our government is closely following the situation and asking all Canadians in the region to register with the ROCA system as soon as possible."

The US state department is aware of Americans impacted by the floods in Nepal and is closely tracking the situation and stands ready to provide assistance. The embassy is working closely with local tour agencies and local authorities to assist Americans in the affected areas.

US citizens in the affected areas have been urged to monitor local news, follow the emergency instructions provided by local authorities, and enroll in STEP.state.gov to receive important emergency information. US citizens who need urgent assistance related to the Rasuwa flooding should call the US Embassy at +977-1-423-4000.

Nine South Koreans working on a hydropower plant are missing and 10 others stranded after the deadly flash flood, South Korea's foreign ministry is saying. The workers were employed by Korea Energy and Doosan Enerbility Co, the ministry said, adding that Nepal had deployed a rescue team to search the affected area.

South Korean foreign minister Cho Hyun held an emergency meeting with government officials and said a team of police, emergency services and foreign ministry officials would fly to Kathmandu on Thursday, the ministry said late on Wednesday. Cho planned to hold a phone call with his Nepalese counterpart on Thursday.

Another 10 South Korean workers affiliated with Doosan Enerbility were stranded in the area and awaiting a helicopter sent by Nepalese authorities to evacuate them.

Several of the tour groups also announced missing foreigners whose nationalities had not been confirmed. They included 77 with Trekkers Society, 26 with Kailash Journey and eight with Richa Tours + Travels.

The Nepali tourism board also announced that, in addition to the unaccounted-for foreigners, a total of 93 Nepalis were missing.

Eight Tons of Relief Materials Sent to Flood-Affected Areas

About eight tons of relief materials have been sent to the areas affected by the flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa through eight trucks of the Nepal Army. The materials were sent to the affected areas tonight in these army vehicles.

The materials sent to the affected areas include 500 mosquito nets, 1,000 children's dignity kits, 220 sleeping bags, 500 blankets, 10 plastic seats, 100 tarpaulins, 500 solar lamps, 500 solar lamp plates and a generator with a capacity of 30 kVA.

The necessary materials were sent to the affected areas through Nepal Army trucks at night with the aim of providing immediate relief and humanitarian assistance to the flood-affected citizens.

The materials were managed and transported under the direct supervision of Home Minister Sudhan Gurung with the aim of immediately delivering relief materials to the affected areas while people's lives are being affected due to the floods. The government has stated that it is intensifying rescue, relief, and rehabilitation work in flood-affected areas.

Scientists Investigate Ice-Rock Avalanche as Cause of Catastrophic Flood

The severe flash flood that hit Rasuwa on Wednesday morning has caused huge loss of life and property. Experts have urged caution in the low-lying areas, saying that the powerful flood along with water, mud and large stones may further affect the low-lying areas after it swept through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems.

The water level in the Bhotekoshi watershed began to rise rapidly at around 9:00 am on Wednesday. The flood has caused major damage in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading.

Scientists from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and partner organizations from Nepal and China are investigating whether the flood was caused by an ice-rock avalanche that occurred in the high Himalayan region.

Based on video footage and information from the affected area, a large amount of snow and rock debris may have fallen into the Lhende River, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi River, according to initial assessments. According to researchers, the event may have created a sudden surge that carried water, debris, and large rocks downstream.

Hydrological observations have shown that the speed and magnitude of the flood was extraordinary. The water level of the Trishuli River in Galchi rose by nine meters in 30 minutes, and in Malekhu by seven meters in the same period.

Several water gauging stations along the Trishuli River were damaged or washed away during the flood. However, the water gauging station in Galchi is still operational, according to ICIMOD.

Experts are also assessing whether the debris created a landslide dam by temporarily blocking the river in a narrow section of the river. If the water accumulated due to such a blockage suddenly breaks out, a second-stage risk could arise. Officials and scientists are continuing to assess the size, location and stability of the potential blockage.

Initial analysis of seismic data recorded during the disaster has identified unusual signals. A seismological centre in Jilung, about 12 kilometres north of the affected area, recorded the unusual signal, while another centre in Zhangmu also recorded unusual activity.

Scientists are studying whether the signals are related to possible avalanches. So far, no causal link has been established between the seismic activity and the flooding.

Xiangong Zhang, head of climate and environmental risk at ICIMOD, said the same area devastated by last year's Rasuwa flood was once again at risk, citing avalanches as the likely cause of the flooding in the Lhende River.

"Since blockages still exist in the upper reaches of the river on the Nepal-China border, authorities have warned of a second flood and an order has already been issued to move the Jilung port to a safer location," he said.

The flood has reportedly caused extensive damage to infrastructure in the affected areas, including hydrological measurement centres. There are many hydroelectric projects along the banks of the Bhotekoshi River and its connected river systems.

ICIMOD Calls for Regional Cooperation to Tackle Transboundary Disaster Risks

ICIMOD senior cryosphere expert Mohammad Farooq Azam said that the increasing frequency of risks related to the cryosphere is becoming more apparent than ever.

"The pace of change is so rapid that existing efforts are struggling to cope with it. Today's disaster in the Lhende River has shown the need for stronger regional cooperation to tackle transboundary risks. Governments must work in a coordinated manner to respond to transboundary risks," he said.

ICIMOD experts said they are continuing to analyse hydrological, seismic, remote sensing and in-situ data to better understand the causes of the event and the ongoing risks to downstream communities. ICIMOD said it is closely liaising and coordinating with the Government of Nepal, scientific institutions and partners in China as the assessment work continues.

ICIMOD Director General Pema Gyamtso expressed his deep sorrow at the sudden and unexpected tragedy and expressed his solidarity with the people and government of Nepal in this difficult time. He also expressed his condolences to the victims, their families and all those affected and pledged to provide any assistance possible.

Scientists say that while climate change is changing glaciers, snow conditions, permafrost and mountain slopes in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, it is too early to determine the role of climate change in this particular event.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, disaster developments, and breaking stories on our World News Page.