Nepal floods LIVE: Toll rises to 788; rescuers race against time as Bhotekoshi water rises again
Over 15,000 personnel have been mobilised for search and rescue operations; helicopters making sorties to evacuate stranded people and deliver relief supplies
The death toll from the flash floods that devastated Nepal rose to 788 on Sunday (August 30), with more bodies being recovered as rescue teams continue their search for more than 2,500 people still missing.
The bodies have been recovered from eight affected districts, with rescuers racing against time on the fifth day of the disaster to locate those missing and reach people stranded in flood-hit areas.
Death toll rises
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said the death toll had climbed to 788, while at least 2,502 people remain missing. So far, 9,435 people have been rescued from the affected areas.
As many as 272 bodies were recovered from Chitawan district, 199 from Nawalparasi East, 100 from Nawalparasi West, 58 from Gorkha, 50 from Dhading, 52 from Nuwakot, 37 from Tanahu and 13 from Rasuwa, officials said.
275 Indians missing
Of the missing, 275 are Indian nationals. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday (August 29) said 128 persons of Indian origin have also been uncontactable. At least 108 Indians have been rescued, it said.
The MEA said that 598 Indian nationals have safely crossed over Nepal from China in the last two days, while around 900 Indians are still on the Chinese side but are "safe and contactable".
The rescued individuals include at least 261 foreign tourists who went “out of contact”. Of them, 167 were Indians, 40 Chinese, eight Ukrainians, four each from Germany and Malta, three from the US, and the rest were from Turkiye, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Oman, Belgium and Bulgaria.
More missing in Tibet
The disaster killed 16 people on the Chinese side as well, while nearly 550 people remain missing in Tibet, according to Chinese media reports.
The missing people include 49 Indians, 104 people from Nepal, 33 from Latvia, 18 from the US, and 15 from the UK. Others from Canada, Australia, South Africa, Malaysia, Germany, Russia, Ireland, are also missing, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
More than 15,000 security personnel have been mobilised for search and rescue operations, while helicopters have been making repeated sorties to evacuate stranded people and deliver relief supplies.
Water rising again
The disaster, believed to have been triggered by a collapse or avalanche of ice and rock in the Himalayan region near the Nepal-Tibet border, sent a massive torrent of water, mud and debris downstream through central Nepal on Wednesday (August 26), devastating towns and villages in several districts, sweeping away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges and damaging hydropower projects.
The Bhotekoshi River, which flows south from the Himalayan border region, became the main conduit for the floodwaters spreading downstream into central Nepal, causing the devastation. On Sunday, the water levels in the Bhotekoshi rose again, authorities warned, urging residents and rescue personnel in flood-hit districts to remain alert.
Read The Federal’s stories on the Nepal floods here:
Nepal disaster puts North Bengal’s vulnerability to Himalayan floods in focus
Nepal floods: After days of despair, a mother finally reunites with her sons
Nepal journalist on the spot: 'The situation now is worse than what I saw earlier'
‘Like a miracle’: Nepal house stands firm as raging floodwaters sweep away other buildings
India sends 11-member rescue team after Nepal's U-turn on foreign assistance
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Live Updates
- 30 Aug 2026 1:14 PM IST
US provides over USD 3.6 million in humanitarian assistance to flood-hit Nepal
The United States has provided humanitarian assistance worth more than USD 3.6 million to people affected by the devastating floods in Nepal, including emergency food support for up to 10,000 households, the US Embassy in Kathmandu said on Sunday.
The US Embassy said it was working with the Nepal government and humanitarian organisations to ensure that assistance reaches those affected by the devastating floods that struck the Himalayan nation on Wednesday, claiming hundreds of lives and leaving thousands missing.
"There is no higher priority for us than the safety of American citizens. Our embassies in Nepal and China are working closely to assist Americans and support disaster relief efforts," the embassy said in a post on X.
"The United States is standing with the people of Nepal by providing more than USD 3.6 million worth of life-saving humanitarian assistance, including up to three months of emergency food assistance to up to 10,000 flood-affected households," it said.
The US Embassy on Thursday said it had begun delivering supplies requested by the Nepal government to flood-affected communities.
- 30 Aug 2026 9:55 AM IST
Flood water level rises again in Bhotekoshi river: Nepal authorities
The water levels in the Bhotekoshi River rose again on Sunday, days after a devastating flash flood struck the area, prompting Nepalese authorities to caution search and rescue personnel in the flood-hit districts to remain alert.
The Bhotekoshi River, which flows south from the Himalayan border region, carried massive volumes of water downstream into central Nepal during flash floods on Wednesday.
The death toll from the flash floods, which caused widespread devastation, has surged to nearly 700.
"The water level in the flooded Bhotekoshi river has risen to some extent; all concerned are urged to take precautionary measures," the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said in a statement.
It asked those involved in search and rescue operations and others in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan districts to remain alert.
The NDRRMA said it will provide updates on the situation after receiving additional information.
Bodies continue to be recovered in the Himalayan nation after the flash floods as search and rescue operations press ahead amid renewed rainfall and rising water levels.
- 30 Aug 2026 7:53 AM IST
Fourth tranche of Indian aid reaches Nepal
The fourth Indian flight carrying essential supplies and technical capabilities landed in Nepal on Sunday morning, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in an X post.
The fourth Indian flight has touched down in Kathmandu. It brings essential supplies and technical capabilities to support Nepal’s ongoing rescue & relief operations.🇮🇳🇳🇵 pic.twitter.com/LYWF5c719k
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 30, 2026 - 30 Aug 2026 7:49 AM IST
China offers emergency financial assistance, aid to Nepal
China on Saturday offered emergency financial assistance and aid to flood-ravaged Nepal.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday spoke to his Nepalese counterpart Shisir Khanal to convey Beijing’s decision to provide the assistance package to Nepal to deal with Wednesday’s flash floods at the Tibet-Nepal border.
Wang told Khanal that this was the most serious cross-border disaster in recent years and the complexity and difficulty of the relief work was unprecedented, according to Chinese official media.
Chinese relief supplies are expected to arrive in Kathmandu shortly, and two teams of China’s tunnel rescue experts are headed to the affected areas to help with the operations, he said.
China has shared important information, including imagery of the affected areas, satellite and hydrological data, with Nepal as well as early-warning information on an upstream barrier lake, Wang said.
"For Nepalese citizens stranded on the Chinese side, China has made appropriate arrangements and will assist them in returning to Nepal as soon as possible. We appreciate Nepal's efforts and hope that Nepal will continue to assist in rescuing and evacuating Chinese citizens in Nepal," Wang told Khanal, official media reported.
“In the face of this disaster, the two countries should stand firmly together, work hand in hand to respond, and overcome the difficulties together, demonstrating through concrete actions the traditional friendship that transcends the Himalayas,” the minister added.
- 30 Aug 2026 7:47 AM IST
275 Indians missing: MEA
Over 275 Indians remained missing while 108 others were rescued following the devastating flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border four days back, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday.
It said 128 persons of Indian origin have also been uncontactable.
The MEA said that 598 Indian nationals have safely crossed over Nepal from China in the last two days, while around 900 Indians are still on the Chinese side but are "safe and contactable".
Late in the night, New Delhi sent a fourth tranche of 11 tonnes of relief materials to Nepal on board a C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the aircraft also carried a technical contingent along with equipment for search and rescue operations as well as a team of forensic experts for DNA analysis along with forensic equipment.
The forensic team will help Nepalese authorities in identifying mortal remains of those killed in Wednesday's flash floods.
Additionally, 16-trucks carrying equipment for a 230-foot 'Single Lane Modular Steel Bridge' have reached Nepal, Jaishankar said on social media.
"Equipment for installation of seven more Bailey bridges will be supplied soon. Technical teams for their installation are expected to reach shortly," he added.
India has so far sent a total of 68.5 tonnes of relief materials to Nepal.
- 30 Aug 2026 7:45 AM IST
102 Nagpur pilgrims stranded in Kathmandu after floods return home safely
As many as 102 pilgrims from Nagpur who were stranded in Kathmandu following devastating flash floods safely returned to the city in Maharashtra on Sunday morning, officials said.
The 102 pilgrims, along with four others from different parts of the Vidarbha region, had travelled to Nepal on August 19 to visit the Pashupatinath temple and other pilgrimage sites. They stayed in Kathmandu until August 27, a day after flash floods struck the Nepal-Tibet border.
While four pilgrims from Vidarbha reached by flight on Saturday, the other 102 reached Nagpur Railway Station by train around 4.30 am on Sunday.
Nagpur’s BJP president Dayashankar Tiwari was present at the station to receive them.
STORY | 102 Nagpur pilgrims stranded in Kathmandu after floods return home safely
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 30, 2026
As many as 102 pilgrims from Nagpur who were stranded in Kathmandu following devastating flash floods safely returned to the city in Maharashtra on Sunday morning, officials said.
The 102… pic.twitter.com/3vlZVYhAnT
