Nepal Death Toll from Bhote Koshi Flood Rises to 553

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August 28, 2026 Hour: 10:16 am

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Damaged roads and bridges hamper search-and-rescue and humanitarian operations.

On Friday, Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) raised to 553 the number of bodies recovered after the flood in the Bhote Koshi River basin.

The highest number of fatalities was recorded in Chitwan district, with 222 deaths. About 134 bodies were located in East Nawalparasi, an area in the south located 150 kilometers from the origin of the flood. The bodies were swept there by the force of the current of mud, water and debris.

At least 393 of the recovered bodies remain unidentified in morgues across the region, where dozens of relatives anxiously examine panels displaying photographs at centers such as the Pokhara Institute of Health Sciences in an attempt to identify their loved ones.

Among those missing in Nepal are 105 officials, 228 local residents, 517 foreign citizens and 127 Nepalese citizens living abroad.

The threat of new flash floods, combined with the collapse of communication networks, landslides and the destruction of dozens of bridges and access roads, is hampering the efforts of about 15,000 security and rescue personnel deployed along more than 100 kilometers of devastated river channel to conduct search-and-rescue operations.

Meanwhile, China raised the death toll Friday to five in the Tibetan county of Gyirong, which was also affected by the massive flood, while the number of missing remained at 558.

Tragedy in Nepal

On Wednesday morning (26–27 August 2026), a large section of glacier and rock collapsed high on the Nepal–Tibet border near Langtang Lirung. The falling ice and debris slammed into a valley river, briefly dammed it, then sent a surge of water, mud, ice and… pic.twitter.com/pjOrWBzwLL
— South Asia Watch (@MuhammadAli_PhD) August 28, 2026

Nepal Asks India and China for Portable Bridges

On Friday, the Nepalese government requested that India and China urgently provide and install 42 portable bridges to reopen ground transportation in the areas hardest hit by the recent floods. India has already sent a first structure along with a team of specialized technicians, and the rest of the equipment committed will gradually arrive in the disaster areas.

The measure seeks to urgently restore the most critical land connections devastated by the floods, including the Rasuwagadhi border crossing over the river of the same name, whose bridge was completely destroyed by the force of the water.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said his country has offered to deploy teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in Nepal to assist with search operations, pending a response from Kathmandu.

“Two aircraft carrying relief supplies have already been sent, and we expect a third with humanitarian assistance… We are preparing a tunnel rescue team, for which a reconnaissance team has first been sent to the field. We are also sending a medical team. In addition, we have offered Bailey bridges to quickly restore connectivity in the affected areas,” he said.

The disaster has destroyed or severely damaged more than 40 kilometers of roads and at least 35 bridges passable by vehicles and 45 pedestrian footbridges. The loss of this infrastructure has left humanitarian access in an extremely difficult situation, while the World Food Programme (WFP) is exploring options to support the government in acquiring more modular bridges.