Nepal flash floods : Death toll rises to 626, nearly 2,000 still missing
The death toll from the devastating flash floods in central Nepal rose to 626 on Saturday, with rescue teams continuing to recover bodies and search for nearly 2,000 people still missing, authorities said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said the bodies were recovered from eight districts. Chitwan recorded the highest number of deaths at 233, followed by Nawalparasi East with 158, Nuwakot 51, Gorkha 48, Nawalparasi West 47, Dhading 45, Tanahu 31 and Rasuwa 13.
The floods swept through Rasuwa and other parts of central Nepal on Wednesday, killing hundreds and causing widespread destruction to homes, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.
Rescue and relief operations continued for a fourth day, with 2,465 stranded people evacuated so far, including 163 foreigners, the Nepal Army said. Of those evacuated, 2,265 were rescued by helicopters while 200 were brought out through land routes.
The foreigners included 113 Indians, 26 Chinese, 15 South Koreans, four Germans, two Italians, two Americans and one Omani national.
More than 11,000 security personnel, including over 5,000 Nepal Army personnel, have been mobilised for search and rescue operations.
As many as 191 workers were also evacuated from tunnels at various hydropower projects in Trishuli and Rasuwa, while emergency health centres at Dhunche and Trishuli have provided medical assistance to 1,706 evacuated people.
Authorities continued to warn of the possibility of further flooding after rising water levels were reported in the affected areas.
In a major relief for stranded travellers, the Mugling-Kathmandu highway reopened on Saturday after remaining closed since Wednesday because of flooding and landslide risks. Nepal Police said traffic was being restored gradually after the route was assessed and declared safe for movement.
The disaster has also triggered a major fundraising effort. More than Rs 2.295 billion has been deposited into Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund since Wednesday, according to sources at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The latest contributions have pushed the fund’s total balance to around Rs 4.09 billion. The government has designated the Ministry of Finance to coordinate contributions and assistance to the flood-affected areas.
Search operations remain underway across the worst-hit districts as authorities race to locate those still missing and assess the full scale of the destruction.
