People at the flood-affected Beni Ghat area, in Dhading district, Nepal, on Wednesday, August 26. PTI
LIVE | Nepal floods: Toll crosses 350 amid fresh flood warning alert
Over 1,000 people, including 250 Indians, remain missing; a collapsed glacier, not an earthquake, triggered the flash flood, says US Geological Survey
The death toll in the massive flash floods in Nepal rose to over 350, leaving scores, including security personnel and foreign tourists, missing, and sweeping away properties in one of the country’s worst disasters in recent years. At least 1,000 people are missing, including 250 from India.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have warned that a large barrier lake near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers in Nepal could breach within 72 hours.
China's Ministry of Water Resources issued the warning. According to state broadcaster China Central Television, the ministry said the lake held an estimated 2 million cubic meters of water by Thursday morning and had already begun overflowing.
With another 3 million cubic meters expected to flow in over the next three days, officials warned of a high risk of danger.
What caused the massive floods?
Scientists now believe a collapsed glacier, rather than an earthquake-triggered landslide, was behind the devastating flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border that has killed at least 177 people, the BBC has reported.
Early reports suggesting a tremor had set off a landslide, which then caused the flood, have since been revised. The US Geological Survey clarified that the disaster stemmed from a glacial collapse — an event in which all or part of a glacier breaks apart. The force generated when the falling ice struck the valley floor was so intense that it registered as a magnitude 5.2 seismic event on USGS instruments, according to data reviewed by scientists studying the disaster.
University of Dundee glacier researcher Simon Cook told the BBC that his team had traced the collapse to the lower section of a glacier near Nepal's Langtang Lirung peak, roughly 15km (9 miles) west of where the floodwaters struck. He believes the ice broke away and moved in a northwesterly direction before shifting westward as it travelled downstream.
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Live Updates
- 27 Aug 2026 4:52 PM IST
Four Namakkal pilgrims remain untraced
Four persons from Namakkal district who left for a spiritual tour of Nepal on August 14 remain untraceable after the flash floods, leaving their families in deep anxiety.
Palanivel, 62, a correspondent of Indian Public School in Arur and a resident of Athanoor near Rasipuram, travelled with his wife Arulmani, 57, relative Asokan, 67, and Marayi of Kalipatti through Mahadev Yatra Agency.
Relatives said they have received no information about the four since the floods were reported. All four mobile phones have been switched off, heightening the family’s fear. Relatives have been trying to reach the travellers directly and have also approached officials in Nepal and the tour organisers for any word on their whereabouts. But they have no details of the group’s last known location.
Palanivel is the brother of former Member of Parliament AKP Chinraj, who said he has been in continuous touch with the Indian Embassy and the Ministry of External Affairs, and that the travellers’ condition is expected to be known soon.
- 27 Aug 2026 4:04 PM IST
21 Tamil Nadu pilgrims rescued in Nepal: MEA
Twenty-one Indian nationals from Tamil Nadu who had travelled to Nepal for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra have been rescued, the Ministry of External Affairs said in post on X.
- 27 Aug 2026 4:02 PM IST
Nearly 100 Chinese nationals missing in Nepal
Nearly 100 Chinese nationals are missing in Nepal following floods and a large mudslide, China's foreign ministry said Thursday.
The missing Chinese citizens include tourists, pilgrims and other people who were in the country, the ministry said.
Beijing is coordinating with Nepal on search and rescue operations and has been updating the embassies concerned, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular briefing in Beijing, reported the Hindustan Times.
- 27 Aug 2026 4:00 PM IST
Over 80 from Maharashtra stranded in Nepal: Minister
More than 80 people from Maharashtra are believed to be stranded in Nepal, with the state government managing to establish contact with four of them, state disaster management minister Girish Mahajan said, reported the Hindustan Times.
- 27 Aug 2026 3:58 PM IST
288 Indians remain untraceable in Nepal: MEA
Ministry of External Affairs said Thursday that it has been unable to establish contact with 288 Indian nationals currently in Nepal. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal gave the figure during a press briefing.
- 27 Aug 2026 3:57 PM IST
Nepal floods: Death toll climbs to 270
Authorities in Nepal have recovered 270 bodies after torrential flooding swept across parts of the Himalayan border region, including areas near Tibet, Nepal Police said Thursday in a post on X.
- 27 Aug 2026 2:05 PM IST
Odisha NRI couple missing after Nepal flash floods
An NRI couple from Odisha has been missing since devastating flash floods struck Nepal on Wednesday, with officials trying to establish contact with them.
Pritish Panda, the nodal officer appointed to assist distressed Odia people in Nepal, said Sandeep Mohapatra and his wife Sidharthi Kumari Sahu are originally from Khurda district and have lived in Australia since 2018.
“We are trying to establish contact with them, but have failed so far. Their mobile phones were found switched off,” Panda told PTI.
Authorities also received calls about a football team from Bhubaneswar whose families were unable to reach them after their phones became unreachable.
"The players' family members were in distress because their mobile phones were found unreachable on Wednesday. Today, we contacted their coach. They are safe,” he said.
The players and their coach are in Pokhara, around 200 km from the flood zone, and arrangements are being made for their return.
Puri resident Rakesh Ranjan Panda and two associates who were in Nepal on Wednesday entered India on Thursday morning, according to a Ministry of External Affairs report cited by the nodal officer.
The Nepal floods have killed 177 people, with thousands still missing, including 300 Indian tourists. The floods hit three districts on Wednesday.
- 27 Aug 2026 1:54 PM IST
178 Indians missing after flash floods hit Nepal
Nepal’s National Tourism Board has reported that 178 Indian nationals remain unaccounted for after flash floods swept through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.
- 27 Aug 2026 1:30 PM IST
CM on aerial survey of flood-hit areas in Bihar; discharge from Gandak barrage declines
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary today (August 27) conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected Valmikinagar in West Champaran district that shares a border with Nepal.
Bihar was put on alert as floodwaters from the neighbouring country entered the Gandak river and reached the Gandak barrage on Wednesday, prompting authorities to open all 36 gates to control the surge.
In a post on X, Choudhary wrote, “In view of the floods in Nepal, I conducted an aerial survey of the flood situation in Bihar’s border areas, including Bagaha, Valmikinagar, Bettiah, and Motihari. I also reviewed the administrative preparedness regarding the potential impact, necessary precautionary measures, safety, and relief and rescue operations.”
He also directed the officials concerned to take all necessary steps with utmost promptness and preparedness.
Talking to reporters, the CM said, “The discharge of water from the Gandak barrage has started declining.” The water discharge from the Gandak barrage at Valmikinagar declined from 1.50 lakh cusecs at 11 pm on Wednesday to 1.04 lakh cusecs on Thursday morning.
The Chief Minister also chaired a review meeting to oversee the rescue and relief measures after the Nepal tragedy. CM has instructed Thiru Ashish Kumar, IAS, Resident Commissioner, Tamil Nadu House, New Delhi, along with a team, to proceed to Kathmandu to oversee the relief and rescue measures in coordination with Nepali authorities and facilitate the safe return of survivors.
He has instructed four ministers, namely PWD, School Education, Agriculture and Non-Resident Tamils, to go to Delhi to coordinate and monitor the rescue and relief measures in coordination with the Centre, facilitate the safe and speedy return of those rescued and extend medical help needed immediately.
- 27 Aug 2026 1:25 PM IST
Meghalaya govt seeks info about missing persons, opens helpline number
The disaster management authority in Meghalaya has urged people to provide information about those who may be uncontactable following the flash floods in Nepal, and opened a helpline number for families and others to report details of missing persons.
The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said it was seeking information on any person from Meghalaya who may have been in the affected area or whose whereabouts could not be confirmed following the disaster.
Family members, relatives, friends, travel agencies, tour operators and members of the public with information about such persons have been urged to contact the authorities.
A dedicated helpline 6009924512 has been made available for the purpose. People can also contact 112/1070 for emergencies and CM Connect at 1971, the SDMA said.
