KATHMANDU: A total of 13,295 security personnel, 15 helicopters and emergency coordination teams from various government agencies have been mobilized for search and rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts following the Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said 12 thematic emergency coordination teams have been formed and deployed in the flood-affected areas to coordinate search and rescue, health services, restoration of communication and electricity, road clearance, relief distribution, international assistance and information management.
According to the Authority, 15 helicopters—six belonging to the Nepali Army and nine operated by the private sector—have been mobilized for rescue and relief operations. Security personnel from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force Nepal have also been deployed for ground and aerial rescue operations.
According to the latest rescue details, 1,976 people have been rescued so far.
A total of 13,295 security personnel have been mobilized in the affected areas, including 7,250 Nepal Police personnel, 4,200 Nepali Army personnel and 1,845 Armed Police Force personnel.
Flood triggered by avalanche
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, an avalanche covering an area of around one square kilometer occurred on Wednesday (August 26, 2026), in the northern part of the Lhende River near the Nepal-China border. The event generated a seismic signal measuring 5.2 magnitude.
The avalanche triggered severe flooding in the coastal areas of the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, causing widespread damage, according to the authority.
Immediate search and rescue, emergency health services, restoration of communication and electricity, reopening of road networks, relief distribution, international assistance and information management have been prioritized in the affected areas.
130 injured, 67 receiving treatment
According to the authority, 130 people have been injured in the disaster so far. Of them, 67 are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals, while 48 have been discharged after treatment. Another 14 injured people have been referred to other health facilities for further treatment.
977 people ‘missing’
The Authority said 977 people remain ‘uncontacted’ following the disaster. As of 10 pm Thursday, 389 bodies had been recovered.
Of the recovered bodies, 33 were found in Dhading, 28 in Nuwakot, 17 in Rasuwa, 32 in Gorkha, 87 in Nawalparasi East, 27 in Nawalparasi West, 28 in Tanahun and 137 in Chitwan.
Among those reported uncontacted are 28 Nepal Police personnel, 45 Nepali Army personnel, 13 Armed Police Force personnel, 15 Customs Office employees, four Immigration Office employees and 161 people from Rasuwa.
The list also includes 517 foreign nationals and 127 Nepali citizens living abroad who were visiting Nepal at the time of the disaster.
Heavy equipment deployed to reopen blocked roads
Heavy equipment has been mobilized at various locations to clear roads obstructed by flood debris and restore transportation services.
Road clearance work at Devighat has been completed, while equipment has been deployed along the Galchhi–Bidur–Trishuli and Baireni–Muglin road sections to remove obstructions.
A hill excavator, loader and tipper have been deployed along the Dhunche–Grang road section. Similarly, three heavy equipment units have been deployed along the Bidur–Trishuli–Dhunge section.
A backhoe has been deployed at the Baireni–Muglin section, while preparations are underway to bring in an additional wheel loader from the Nuwakot Road Division.
To further strengthen road clearance operations, two additional heavy equipment units from Kathmandu have been kept on standby. One unit each has been stationed at Road Division Mulkot and Road Division Dumre (Khaireni).
Similarly, nine heavy equipment units and four tippers have been kept on standby in Janakpur, according to the authority.
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