KATHMANDU: The death toll from Nepal’s devastating flash floods rose to 1,344 on Saturday as rescue teams recovered more bodies from affected districts, while 4,898 people remain missing, officials said.
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, more than 13,000 people have so far been rescued from flood-hit areas.
The floods were triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, sending massive volumes of water into the Bhotekoshi River and downstream areas. The floodwaters swept away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges, while also damaging several hydropower projects in northern and central Nepal.
Officials said that among the bodies recovered so far, 758 were adults and 85 were children, while 501 bodies were recovered with parts missing. The condition of several bodies was attributed to prolonged exposure to water and the weight of debris.
Authorities said 1,030 bodies have been temporarily buried after completing required procedures, including DNA collection.
Chitwan district has reported the highest number of recoveries, with around 360 bodies found there alone. Bodies have also been recovered from Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi East and Nawalparasi West.
Officials said the missing include more than 600 children in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.
Authorities continued to monitor water levels in major rivers, including the Koshi, Narayani, Bagmati, Karnali, Mahakali, Kankai, Kamal, Kamala, Babai, Eastern Rapti and Western Rapti.
Joint rescue teams led by the Nepal Army continued search and rescue operations for the 11th consecutive day, with major efforts focused on hydropower projects where hundreds of workers are feared trapped inside tunnels.
Experts from India and China were assisting Nepali rescue teams.
On Friday, two men were rescued alive from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project. The Nepal Army identified them as Kabir Maharjan, 45, a mechanical supervisor, and Sanjay Sah, 30, a foreman.
Authorities also said an Indian tunnel rescue team working with the Nepal Army had created a temporary track inside the Chilime tunnel in Rasuwa district, enabling heavier rescue equipment to reach affected sections.
The disaster has also claimed at least 21 lives on the Chinese side, while more than 500 people remain missing in Tibet, according to Chinese media reports.
Search operations continued on Saturday as authorities recovered more bodies, monitored rising river levels and pressed ahead with rescue efforts in some of the worst-hit areas.
