Thousands Missing After Devastating Nepal Floods

Kathmandu, September 5 – The massive flooding that hit Nepal last week has left thousands unaccounted for. Official counts reveal 4,886 people are still missing, including 606 foreign nationals, as rescue teams comb through the disaster zone.

The floodwaters devastated the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river basins, washing away homes, roads and bridges. Eleven hydro‑power projects situated along these rivers contain underground tunnels where many of the missing are believed to be trapped. On Friday, two survivors were rescued from the Upper Trishuli 3A tunnel in Rasuwa district, underscoring the difficulty of the operation.

Police have recovered 1,344 bodies to date, and DNA sampling of 2,272 individuals—both victims and relatives—has been initiated to confirm identities. A total of 7,912 police personnel have been assigned to search, rescue and relief duties, while 65 officers have been injured and 25 remain missing themselves.

The scale of the disaster has prompted Nepal to appeal for international assistance to rebuild the damaged infrastructure and support the affected communities.