KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Rasuwa flood: Death toll reaches 903
The death toll from the devastating Bhotekosi floods has climbed to 903, while 4,247 people remain missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). According to details released by the authority as of 9 a.m. Monday, 4,247 people are still missing. Of the 903 bodies recovered, 24 were found in Rasuwa, 95 in Nuwakot, 55 in Dhading, 62 in Gorkha, 207 in Nawalparasi East, 151 in Nawalparasi West, 37 in Tanahun, and 272 in Chitwan.
Bhotekoshi flood: 3,029 rescued, over 1,500 reported missing
More than 3,000 people have been rescued following the devastating flood that swept through the Bhotekoshi River on the morning of August 26. District Disaster Management Committee Coordinator and Chief District Officer of Nuwakot, Shambhu Prasad Regmi, said 3,029 people severely affected by the flood had been rescued from various locations in Rasuwa and Nuwakot as of Monday night. Of those rescued, 2,776 are Nepali citizens and 253 are foreign nationals. A total of 624 people were rescued in the past 24 hours, according to Regmi.
President Paudel meets RSP chair Lamichhane over flood response
President Ram Chandra Paudel held a meeting with Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane on Monday. According to Lamichhane’s secretariat, the meeting focused on the flooding along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, the damage caused by the disaster, and the ongoing rescue and relief efforts. Lamichhane briefed President Paudel on the situation after meeting Prime Minister Balendra Shah earlier on Monday to receive an update on the government’s response to the disaster. He subsequently shared the information with the President during their meeting.
PM Balen assures Rabi of full state mobilisation for flood rescue and relief
Prime Minister Balendra Shah held a meeting with Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane on Monday to discuss the government’s ongoing rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in areas affected by the recent flooding in Rasuwa. The meeting, held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, focused on the response to the flooding in the Bhotekoshi River, which has affected several areas of Rasuwa. According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Shah briefed Lamichhane on the government’s efforts to search for and rescue affected residents, distribute relief materials and manage the situation in the affected areas.
Chinese rescue team clears road toward flood-hit Gyirong (Kerung) port
A Chinese rescue team has intensified search and rescue operations following a landslide at the Gyirong (Kerung) port in Tibet Autonomous Region last Wednesday. According to the Frontline Rescue Headquarters, the main road leading to the Gyirong port had been reopened up to about 1.2 kilometres from the port’s border entrance as of Monday morning. Authorities are preparing to intensify a new phase of search and rescue operations in the worst-affected areas. The major landslide, which originated on the Nepali side of the Nepal-China border, struck the Gyirong port area early Wednesday, causing significant damage and leaving several people missing.
DNA testing begins to identify bodies recovered from Bhotekoshi flood
The Nepal Police has begun the process of DNA testing to identify bodies and human remains recovered following the Bhotekoshi flood, including those believed to belong to Nepali and foreign nationals. Police said arrangements have been made to identify unidentified bodies and body parts through DNA profiling. Families of people who remain missing have been asked to provide the necessary samples to assist in the identification process. For missing persons whose relatives are in Nepal, a fresh blood sample from any one first-degree relative, father, mother, son or daughter, will be required. Relatives can contact the laboratory at the Police Hospital in Maharajgunj or the nearest District Police Office to provide the sample.
Rasuwa flood victims call for stronger state presence as rescue efforts face challenges
Six days after the devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, residents of flood-hit Rasuwa continue to face fear, shortages and uncertainty, with many people still missing and rescue operations unable to reach several affected settlements. The flood on August 26 caused extensive damage to roads, bridges, electricity and communication infrastructure in northern Rasuwa, particularly in settlements across Uttargaya, Gosainkunda and Aamachhodingmo rural municipalities. Local residents say they are still searching for missing family members, while some injured people may remain stranded or unconscious in inaccessible areas. The lack of reliable information has further intensified concerns about the situation in remote parts of the district.
330 rescued from flood-hit Rasuwa as tunnel searches continue
Rescue operations for people affected by the Bhotekoshi River flood in Rasuwa have been intensified, with 330 people evacuated to safety by Nepal Army helicopters as of 1:30 pm on Monday. The Nepal Army said technical and expert teams have been deployed to search for and rescue people believed to be trapped inside tunnels of hydropower projects damaged by the flood. At the Trishuli-3 hydropower project, a rescue team has descended around 15 metres into the tunnel to conduct the search operation. Similarly, an expert team from the Nepal Army has continued search and rescue efforts inside the tunnel of the Trishuli-3B (3G) hydropower project.
PM Balen consults security chiefs over Bhotekoshi flood crisis
Prime Minister (PM) Balendra Shah (Balen) is holding briefings with the chiefs of Nepal’s security agencies to address the crisis caused by the Bhotekoshi flood. Prime Minister Shah has been in discussions since Monday morning. Earlier, he received a briefing from Chief of Army Staff of the Nepal Army, Ashok Raj Sigdel. According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Sigdel briefed Shah on the search, rescue, relief and disaster-management efforts carried out so far.
Nearly 590 foreign nationals from 38 countries still unaccounted for: Foreign Ministry
Nearly 590 foreign nationals from 38 countries remain unaccounted for following the flooding, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. Speaking at a regular press briefing at the ministry, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri said some bodies that had remained in the water for a prolonged period and could not be identified had been temporarily buried. He said DNA samples had been collected from each body and preserved in accordance with international protocols so that families can identify the deceased and carry out final rites in the future.
Govt seeks international support to identify flood victims, requests technical assistance from Singapore
The government has begun seeking international assistance to speed up the identification of people who remain missing or have been affected by the recent floods. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said Nepal had requested technical assistance from Singapore to support the identification process. Nepal has also sought DNA testing assistance from the United States and high-capacity equipment from China and Singapore, according to the ministry. The government expects to receive additional specialised equipment from Japan and South Korea soon.
Rasuwa flood: Home Minister Gurung heads to Trishuli-3 ‘A’ Project site
Home Minister Sudan Gurung is heading to the Upper Trishuli-3 ‘A’ hydropower project site, where 42 people remain unaccounted for. Gurung is traveling to the site with equipment needed to break through the barrier blocking the tunnel entrance. He is also taking a breaker to assist in the rescue operation. An Indian rescue team is accompanying the Home Minister to the incident site. According to information from the site, the rescue team has reached the crown section of the main access tunnel.
Bhotekoshi flood: 33 injured discharged from National Trauma Center
Thirty-three of the 48 people injured in the Bhotekoshi River flood in Rasuwa and brought to the National Trauma Center for treatment have been discharged after their health conditions improved. According to District Police Range Kathmandu spokesperson Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Thapa, 48 injured people were rescued and brought to the National Trauma Center. Of them, 33 have been discharged following treatment. SP Thapa said 15 injured people are still receiving treatment at the National Trauma Center. According to the hospital administration, the health condition of most of those undergoing treatment is normal.
We stand shoulder to shoulder with Nepal: Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi and expressed condolences to those who lost their lives in the devastating flash floods that struck Nepal on August 26, 2026. Singh signed the condolence book at the embassy and extended his deepest condolences, on behalf of the Government and people of India, to the people and government of Nepal over the loss of lives and widespread devastation caused by the disaster. He said the flash floods had caused significant loss of life and property and affected not only Nepali citizens but also foreign nationals, including Indian citizens. Singh expressed sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the disaster.
Nepali Army rescue team finds no one inside Rasuwagadhi Tunnel
A Nepali Army (NA) rescue team has returned to Dhunche after finding no one inside the tunnel of the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, which was affected by flooding in the Bhotekoshi River on Wednesday (August 26). A search and rescue operation was launched after concerns arose that people might be trapped at the far end of the tunnel following the flood. The operation was conducted under the leadership of the Nepali Army, with the involvement of engineers and a drone team. The rescue team reached the far end of the tunnel through its interior and searched areas where people could potentially have been trapped. The team also flew a drone inside the tunnel to assess the situation. However, no signs of human presence were found during the search.
US Embassy advises citizens against travel to flood-hit areas
The US Embassy in Nepal has updated its travel advisory for Nepal, urging its citizens not to travel to the Rasuwagadhi-Timure-Syafrubesi area of Rasuwa district, including the Nepal-China border crossing, due to dangerous conditions following the major flood of August 26, 2026. According to the updated advisory, the area remains risky due to flood damage, disrupted transportation and communication services, ongoing search-and-rescue and recovery operations, and the possibility of further floods and landslides. The US has placed the affected area under Level 4: Do Not Travel, its highest travel warning.
Bhotekoshi flood: 94 bodies brought to Teaching Hospital
The bodies of 94 people who lost their lives in the Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa on August 26 have been brought to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj today. Of the 94 bodies brought to the hospital, post-mortems have been conducted on 48, while 37 are yet to undergo post-mortem examinations, said Dr Gopal Chaudhary, chief of the Forensic Lab. Only nine of the 94 bodies have so far been identified and handed over to their families and relatives.
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