A Week After Nepal Floods, Death Toll Surpasses 1,200; Nearly 5,000 Still Missing, Including 583 Foreign Nationals
Nepali Army personnel conduct search-and-rescue operations in flood-affected areas of Nepal. Photo: Nepali Army
The death toll from recent flooding across Nepal’s central region has reached 1,204, with the total number of missing persons rising to 4,858, authorities said Wednesday. Search and rescue teams continued evacuations and delivered relief supplies to hard-hit areas a week after devastating flash floods struck the region.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority stated that the figures were current as of 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday. Bodies have been recovered across several districts, including 348 in Chitwan, 217 in Nawalparasi East, 202 in Nawalparasi West, 155 in Nuwakot, and 115 in Rasuwa.
Authorities reported 11,993 people rescued, including 4,091 Nepali citizens and 273 foreign nationals evacuated by the Nepal Army. Army helicopters have flown 690 missions through Wednesday, including 80 flights that day alone, while private-sector aircraft conducted 29 flights from Kathmandu.
According to official data released by the Nepal Police on Wednesday, a total of 4,858 people remain missing across the affected regions. Among the missing citizens are 2,925 Nepalis (2,445 men and 480 women). Foreign nationals account for 583 of the missing, including 251 men, 330 women, and two individuals categorized as other. Additionally, 1,350 missing-person reports were logged via emergency hotlines.
District Emergency Operations Centers separately reported around 865 missing in Rasuwa and 1,558 in Nuwakot, alongside nearly 900 people connected to local hydropower projects. The authority noted that 301 people were injured, with 195 discharged from hospitals. The Nepal Army provided medical treatment to 3,111 people, while the Armed Police Force treated 1,628.
More than 21,000 security personnel have been mobilized, including 9,199 Nepal Army troops, 7,912 police officers, and 4,203 Armed Police Force personnel, the authority said.
The government provided cash assistance of 10 million Nepali rupees each to Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts and 5 million rupees to Dhading. It allocated 67.5 million rupees to 15 affected local governments, with an additional 67.5 million rupees sent directly to affected communities.
Approximately 3,453 people were staying in holding centers, including 2,466 in Nuwakot, 398 in Rasuwa, 329 in Kathmandu, and 260 in Dhading.
Officials said 45 trucks and 37 utility vehicles carrying food and relief materials have been dispatched to affected areas. Supplies were delivered via nine helicopter flights, while the Armed Police Force transported additional relief goods on 107 flights within affected districts.
Fuel stocks in affected areas currently include 34,000 liters of diesel, 16,000 liters of gasoline, and 7,000 liters of aviation fuel. Nepal Telecom confirmed that all 110 damaged telecommunications towers are now operational, while Ncell reported 75 of its 78 damaged towers have returned to service.