- A devastating flash flood in Nepal’s Rasuwa district killed at least 469 people, while 977 others remain missing across multiple downstream districts.
- Missing persons include 517 foreign nationals and 45 army personnel, with recovery efforts extending to Chitwan, Nawalparasi, and other neighboring regions.
- Preliminary assessments suggest an ice-rock avalanche triggered the disaster, which destroyed over 80 bridges and 40 kilometers of vital roadway infrastructure.
- Thousands of security personnel are conducting search operations despite severe logistical challenges caused by destroyed communications and debris-covered terrain.
Kathmandu, Nepal: The devastating flash flood that tore through Nepal’s Rasuwa district has claimed at least 469 lives, while 977 people remain missing, leaving families across Nepal and abroad anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones.
The disaster struck the Bhote Koshi River corridor in Rasuwa on Wednesday, sending a powerful surge of water, rocks and debris through settlements and infrastructure. The flood swept away people, vehicles and buildings before moving downstream into neighbouring districts, including Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi and Chitwan.
For many families, the disaster has brought a painful wait. With communications disrupted in several areas and many locations still difficult to reach, relatives continue to hope that those listed as missing may still be found alive.
The latest figures were released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) based on information collected from district administrations and emergency operation centres.
Bodies Found Far Downstream
The scale of the disaster has become clearer as rescue teams continue recovering bodies along the river system.
Authorities have reported 137 bodies recovered in Chitwan, 87 in Nawalparasi East, 33 in Dhading, 32 in Gorkha, 28 in Tanahun, 27 in Nawalparasi West, 28 in Nuwakot and 17 in Rasuwa.
Some of the recovered bodies and remains have yet to be identified, adding to the anguish of families waiting for information.
The fact that bodies have been found far downstream shows the tremendous force of the flood. Entire vehicles and large quantities of debris were carried along the river, making the search increasingly difficult for rescue teams.
977 People Still Unaccounted For
Authorities have listed 977 people as missing or unaccounted for.
The list includes Nepali citizens, foreign nationals, security personnel and government employees. Among those reported missing are 517 foreign nationals, 127 Nepali citizens living abroad who were visiting Nepal, 45 Nepali Army personnel, 28 Nepal Police personnel, 13 Armed Police Force personnel, 15 Customs Office employees and four Immigration Office employees.
The authorities have also reported 161 people from Rasuwa and 66 from Makwanpur among those missing.
Officials have stressed that being listed as missing does not automatically mean that a person has died. Many affected communities remain cut off from communication, and search teams are still working to establish the whereabouts of those who have not yet been contacted.
For families, however, every passing hour has brought uncertainty and fear as they wait for confirmation.
Foreign Families Await News
The disaster has also caused deep concern internationally, with hundreds of foreign nationals reported missing.
According to the latest information, 517 foreign nationals are among those unaccounted for. Indian nationals make up the largest group, followed by citizens of the United States, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia and the United Kingdom. Nationals of Canada, Germany, Singapore, South Africa and other countries have also been reported missing.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established an Emergency Control Room to help verify information, coordinate search and rescue efforts and provide assistance to affected foreign nationals and their families.
The ministry has appealed to families, diplomatic missions and other concerned organisations to rely on official information and avoid spreading unverified reports.
Rescue Teams Working Against the Clock
Nepal’s security forces have deployed thousands of personnel in an effort to find survivors and recover those still missing.
The Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force are searching riverbanks, settlements and downstream areas. Helicopters have also been used to reach isolated communities and evacuate people trapped in areas cut off by damaged roads and bridges.
Earlier rescue efforts brought stranded people out of the Timure area of Rasuwa, where access has been severely affected.
But rescuers are facing enormous challenges. Roads and bridges have been destroyed, landslides have blocked routes, and huge quantities of mud and debris have made some areas extremely dangerous to enter.
Despite these difficulties, search teams continue to move through the affected areas, hoping to find survivors and provide families with answers.
Homes, Roads and Bridges Swept Away
The flood has left a trail of destruction across the affected districts.
Preliminary assessments indicate that 35 motorable bridges, 45 suspension bridges and around 40 kilometres of roads have been damaged. Hydropower facilities and other infrastructure have also been affected.
In northern Rasuwa, the destruction has severely disrupted transportation and communication, including around the strategically important Rasuwagadhi area on the Nepal-China border.
For communities that depend on these roads and bridges for trade, travel and access to essential services, the disaster has brought another difficult challenge: rebuilding their lives after the waters recede.
Questions Over the Cause
The disaster has also renewed concerns about the growing risks faced by communities living beneath the Himalayan highlands.
Preliminary assessments suggest that the flood may have been linked to the sudden release of ice, rock and water in the high mountains near the Nepal-China border. An ice-rock avalanche has been cited as a possible trigger.
Scientists have warned that rising temperatures and instability in high-altitude areas can increase the risk of glacier-related disasters. Further investigation is still needed to establish exactly how the event unfolded.
Families Continue to Wait
As rescue teams continue their search, the full scale of the tragedy is still unfolding.
Authorities are working to verify casualty figures, identify recovered bodies and locate those who remain missing. The numbers are expected to change as search teams reach areas that are currently inaccessible.
But behind every number is a person—a family waiting for a phone call, a community searching for a neighbour, and loved ones hoping for news.
With 469 people confirmed dead and 977 still missing, the Rasuwa flood has left a deep scar across Nepal. For thousands of families, the search is not simply an official operation; it is a desperate race against time to find their loved ones and bring them home.
