Four French nationals are still missing after the devastating flash flood that struck areas near the Nepal-Tibet border earlier this week, French minister delegate for French nationals abroad Eleonore Caroit said on Friday.

The Minister Delegate said the foreign ministry had identified 80 French people were in the area when disaster struck and 76 are accounted for.

At least 17,000 children have been affected by the floods across Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts north of Kathmandu, the UN children's agency UNICEF said, adding that it was working with Nepal's government to identify, register and reunite children separated from their families.

"An Indian Air Force C-130 aircraft has departed with 10 tonnes of essential relief supplies, including medicines and food items, to support those affected," says IAF in a post on X.

The United States said on Friday that about 90 Americans were unaccounted for in the Nepal-China border region after devastating floods cut off remote communities, while five US citizens had reached safety in Nepal.

No American deaths have been reported, a State Department spokesperson said.

"As of 6:00 am EST 8/28, the State Department is aware of approximately 90 Americans unaccounted for in the Nepal/China cross-border region," the spokesperson said. "We can confirm that 5 American citizens have made their way to safety in Nepal. We are not aware of any U.S. citizen deaths at this time." (IANS)

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday assured that a rescue team will be dispatched to Kathmandu from West Bengal to locate missing persons in the Nepal flash floods.

Speaking to reporters after interacting with the family members of individuals from the State who went missing, he underlined that 39 people from West Bengal were initially reported missing in the region.

While authorities have successfully established contact with two of these individuals and their families on behalf of the state government, 37 people remain unaccounted for, Adhikari stated.

"According to information received from the Chinese side at the District Police Office Rasuwa, the Bhote Koshi has once again experienced a rise in flooding, so residents along the Trishuli River's riparian areas (up to Mugling) are requested to remain in safe locations with high vigilance until further notice," says Nepal's disaster management authority.

Nepal's disaster agency on Friday dramatically increased the total number of people missing on its side of the border to 1,924.

Chinese officials have not given updated figures Friday for the total number of missing in Tibet. On Thursday, they put the number at 558.

Together, the total missing Friday was therefore at least 2,482, a leap of more than 1,000 from a day earlier.

The Maharashtra government has issued an update on citizens from the state stranded in Nepal and the Tibet region amid the flood situation triggered by heavy rains since August 26.

According to the Maharashtra State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) under the Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation Department, 395 Maharashtra citizens are currently reported to be stranded in Nepal.

Of these, authorities have established contact with 325 citizens and confirmed that they are safe. The state government has initiated the process of bringing these citizens back to India from Kathmandu.

A third flight carrying 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance has departed for Kathmandu, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday.

"The assistance includes portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets and water purification tablets. An 11-member team of doctors, paramedics & Recce team for Tunnel rescue operations is also on-board," he wrote in a post on X.

Nepal flood death count rises to 579, say authorities.

The Nepal-Tibet flood disaster has left an "enormous" level of trauma, the Red Cross said Friday, with early estimates suggesting 93,000 people may have been affected.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the world's largest humanitarian network, fears the death toll from Wednesday's disaster, already above 500, will continue to rise.

"Due to roads and bridges having been washed out and both cell coverage and electricity cuts, we have not yet been able to access some of the hardest-hit areas," said David Fisher, the IFRC head of delegation for Nepal.

"The trauma of this event is enormous," he told a Geneva press conference, speaking from Kathmandu.

"Thousands of homes have been destroyed or suffered significant damage. We believe that at least 93,000 people have been affected and in great need." (AFP)

Nepal disaster agency has released the names of the individuals rescued today.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally spoke his Nepalese counterpart Balendra Shah and expressed his condolences and reviewed the situation in Nepal amid flash floods.

Expressing deep anguish over the severe natural disaster, he emphasised that the Indian government is extending full assistance to local authorities, particularly focusing on rescue operations and locating missing individuals.

"The situation in Nepal is very tragic. There have been many casualties, and many lives have been lost. A massive natural disaster has struck, causing deep sorrow and shock. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the Prime Minister of Nepal. Full assistance is being provided," Hussain said.

Four bodies were recovered from a river in Uttar Pradesh's Maharajganj district after they apparently drifted into Indian territory from Nepal amid the ongoing flood situation, officials said on Friday.

The bodies were found in a severely decomposed state and have not yet been identified; they are currently being held at the mortuary of the Maharajganj district hospital.

Authorities are in contact with the Nepal administration to ascertain their identities and check whether they could be among those reported missing after the floods and landslides.

District Magistrate Gaurav Singh Sogarwal said, "Four bodies have so far been recovered and kept in the mortuary. We are in contact with the Nepal administration regarding the matter." He noted that the flood threat has subsided as the water flow in the river has decreased, and added, "The situation in the area is normal at present." Officials said efforts were underway to identify the deceased and ascertain whether they were among those missing in Nepal following the devastating floods. (PTI)

"I just received a group of people, Indians who had gone on a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar and had been rescued after the floods. They were brought back to Kathmandu. They were rescued by the Nepali Army, and then our embassy arranged for them to come back. So I just came to meet them and, of course, shared our great relief that they were safe and sound and learned from them about their experiences," says External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar after receiving rescued Indians. 

"We have also made a specific offer to the Nepal authorities to dispatch NDRF teams along with their associated equipment that can help in ongoing search and rescue operations and bring relief assistance to people impacted by the tragedy. We await a response from the Government of Nepal on this front," says Randhir Jaiswal.

India is preparing to send  a tunnel rescue team to Nepal upon Kathmandu's request, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, for which a recce team is being flown in first to assess the equipment required.

"A medical team is also being sent. In addition, we have also offered bailey bridges along with their associated technical teams so that connectivity can be restored quickly in the affected parts of Nepal. One bailey bridge is already in Nepal and can be deployed for relief efforts," he said.

Speaking on humanitarian assistance to Nepal, Randhir Jaiswal said, "You are aware of the humanitarian assistance rendered by India so far to Nepal in the wake of the recent tragedy. More assistance is in the pipeline. Two aircraft with relief material have left, and a third tranche of relief material is expected to leave this evening."

He noted that 12-13 tonnes of relief material are on the third flight.

In the press briefing, Randhir Jaiswal further said, "21 Indian nationals landed in Delhi from Kathmandu. They are from Tamil Nadu. Our ambassador met them in Kathmandu yesterday."

In a press conference on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal said 320 Indians are still not contactable, while 96 Indian nationals from China who were on the Mansarovar Yatra have safely crossed over to Nepal.

Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said 14,829 security personnel have been mobilised for search and rescue operations. So far, 3742 people have been rescued, and 977 remain missing.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has arrived at Delhi Airport to receive Indians who have arrived from Kathmandu after the Nepal flash floods.

In a fresh chart released on Friday, the Nepal tourism board indicated that 85 Indians had been rescued after the deadly flash flood. In total, 121 people from different nationalities have been rescued.

Nepal flash flood death count rises to 538, says disaster authority. (AFP)

"In response to complaints from the public about delays in the search for missing citizens and the management of bodies (recovery) following the devastating flood that struck Bhote Koshi in Rasuwa last Wednesday, the Nepali Army has intensified its operations," said Nepal Prime Minister's Office.

Taking the complaints about the slow pace of body collection and search efforts seriously, the Army has deployed special teams and is actively collecting bodies at a rapid pace, it said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday discussed relief and rescue efforts underway in Nepal in the wake of a devastating flash flood in the Bhotekoshi River area of Rasuwa, stating that India gives "highest priority" to the relief operations in the neighbouring country.

In an X post, Jaishankar shared that he discussed the situation with Indian Embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing, and the ministry's divisions in the region informed him of the further relief supplies to be sent to Nepal.

"Discussed the relief and rescue efforts underway in Nepal today. Our Embassies in Kathmandu & Beijing provided an updated picture in respect of the status and well-being of Indian nationals. The concerned MEA Divisions apprised us of the further relief supplies to be sent to Nepal. We give highest priority to this issue," the X post read.

Chances of a secondary flash flood prevail in Nepal as debris from the ice-rock avalanche that possibly triggered the flash floods is accumulating at the river confluence and creating a temporary dam, senior cryosphere specialist at ICIMOD, Mohd Farooq Azam, has warned.
The term cryosphere refers to the parts of the Earth's surface covered by frozen water.

As of Friday, the death toll from the flash floods in Nepal and Tibet has exceeded 470, with nearly 1,000 people still reported missing as search and rescue operations continue into their third day.

Researchers from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), based near Kathmandu, are investigating whether an ice-rock avalanche originating from a high-altitude location may have triggered the floods.

"This is basically an ice and rock avalanche. So, as per current understanding, there is a detachment of the bedrock, which means that the bedrock from below the glacier is detached from its position and came down to the valley that created this disaster," Azam told PTI Videos.

"This debris that came down with this flash flood is now also accumulating at the river confluence, where there is temporary damming at the moment. This dam is collecting water, and it is expected that over the next three days, there will be more water collected in this temporary pond or lake. So, there are chances that there may be some secondary flash flood in this valley," he said. 

Nepali soldiers battled Friday to reach 100 people trapped in a tunnel two days after deadly floods, as the risk of new torrents forced China to halt rescue efforts at its hardest-hit zone in Tibet.

Emergency teams have recovered 472 bodies after a tsunami-like wall of freezing water and mud crashed down on Wednesday, burying homes, smashing bridges and sweeping away vehicles in both Nepal and Tibet.

More than 1,400 people are missing, including trekkers in the Himalayas and scores of Hindu pilgrims to Tibet's sacred snow-capped Mount Kailash.

The US Geological Survey said the disaster -- the deadliest for Nepal since a 2015 earthquake -- was caused by a glacial collapse that triggered a vast flow of icy debris.

Climate change is causing glaciers to melt worldwide, increasing the risks of glacial lake floods and glacial collapses.

Emergency teams were racing to retrieve survivors from affected zones, as the threat of new flooding grew.

Nepal does not need foreign assistance for search-and-rescue operations following the devastating flash flood that swept through several towns, its foreign ministry said on Friday, despite offers of help from several countries with nationals missing in the disaster.

The flood tore through areas including Rasuwa district near the Chinese border, levelling entire towns, damaging hydropower projects and killing close to 500 people. Hundreds of foreign nationals are still missing, including from South Korea, which said it has already sent a response team to Nepal and will also dispatch a disaster relief team. 

But Nepal's foreign ministry said on Friday that it was managing the rescue efforts. 

"The offer for help is natural. Our security agencies are doing the search and rescue operation. For now we don’t require such help," Lok Bahadur Chhetri, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said without providing further details.

South Korea's foreign ministry said Nepal had indicated it was not yet planning to accept foreign rescue teams.

"South Korea will keep negotiating with Nepal over the matter," the ministry added.

Seoul has pledged $1 million in humanitarian assistance through international organisations, its foreign minister said on X.

Nepal says dam burst in Tibet, warns rescuers to head to safety: police
 

Efforts to rebuild Nepal’s infrastructure after a devastating flash flood this week could cost at least $5 billion, according to the country’s only billionaire. 

“I wouldn’t be surprised” if the eventual costs climb to that level, Binod Chaudhary, chairman at Chaudhary Group, told Haslinda Amin on Bloomberg TV. “It is not only the money, but the amount of time it takes and the difficult geography.”

“We have been seeing complete disruption,” Chaudhary said, noting that power stations damaged were also damaged.
 

China paused a rescue operation on Friday due to the high risk of renewed flooding in Tibet where hundreds remain missing after a deadly mudslide hit the border region.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that a lake formed by immense piles of debris has begun overflowing towards the area that rescue teams were headed.

"So all rescue teams have been ordered to stand by in place and wait for further instructions," it said, adding that emergency teams which had earlier accessed the area "have been ordered to withdraw one kilometer". (AFP)

Nepali army helicopter rescue teams were working Friday to rescue around 100 people trapped inside a tunnel at a hydropower project swamped by a devastating flood two days earlier.

"Our focus is in search and rescue of people... some people are trapped in the tunnel of Trishuli 3A hydropower project,"  Nepal Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet told AFP.  The prime minister's office said in a statement that 350 people had been rescued from the area, but that 100 more were trapped. 

New satellite imagery from Vantor technology showed that the Tibet-Nepal Rasuwagadhi border crossing has been completely destroyed, with the glacial flood completely scouring the valley floor.  

Over 469 people have been killed, and more than 1,400 are missing after a massive flash flood hit Nepal this week, washing away villages and many project sites in a region bordering Tibet. The Nepal Army said 14 helicopters and disaster response teams have been deployed for rescue and relief.

At least 78 Indians among 624 tourists from 32 countries are still missing after Nepal flash floods. The total death count has reached 392. 

Rescue teams and military helicopters searched Thursday for hundreds of missing people along the mountainous Nepal-China border, where a deadly torrent of water and mud several stories high swept through communities a day earlier following a glacier collapse.

Videos of the disaster showed people running before the floodwaters swallowed them up and washed out buildings and bridges. More than 390 people were killed, according to authorities in Nepal and China, and more than 1,400 were missing, including hundreds of foreigners and pilgrims. Hundreds of others have been displaced across the Himalayan region.

The steep slopes and lush valleys below the Himalayan mountain range -- home to many of the world’s highest peaks and remaining glaciers -- are especially vulnerable to flooding and landslides. Melting glaciers have become more common because of human-caused climate change. (AP)

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong acknowledged Friday it was "difficult" to locate citizens out of contact in Nepal following deadly flooding.

The number of Australian nationals missing following the floods has risen to 39, Wong told the Today Show.

"We know many people have been killed, many people are missing and the scale of the disaster is quite horrific," Wong said.

The administration has sounded a high alert in Maharajganj and Kushinagar districts of Uttar Pradesh and stepped up monitoring of the Gandak and other water bodies downstream of rivers in Nepal, following devastating flash floods in the neighbouring country that have killed at least 177 people and left thousands missing.

The administration in UP, which shares its northern borders with Nepal, is focusing on river monitoring, alerting vulnerable villages and keeping relief-and-rescue teams ready.

US officials said about 90 US citizens remained unaccounted for Thursday, a day after catastrophic flash floods engulfed a border area of China and Nepal, killing hundreds of people.

In a statement, the US State Department said it is not aware of any US a deaths, but three Americans have been rescued.

The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has held up scheduled trips of the Delhi-Kathmandu international bus service as a precautionary measure amid the flash floods in Nepal, with services scheduled for August 28 and 29 affected.

In a letter dated August 27, the DTC's I.P. Depot said the DTC bus trips from Delhi to Kathmandu and Kathmandu to Delhi scheduled for August 28 have been held up. A Nepali bus trip from Delhi to Kathmandu scheduled for August 29 has also been held up.

The Rajasthan government has temporarily suspended the pilgrimage to the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu under its Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme in view of the massive flash floods in Nepal, an official said.

On the direction of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, the air journey to Kathmandu has been suspended until August 31, keeping in mind the safety of the elderly pilgrims, Devasthan Minister Joraram Kumawat said.

"The safety and health of senior citizens is the priority for the state government. The tragedy in Nepal has badly affected the infrastructure there. Therefore, the pilgrimage has been temporarily suspended so that the elderly pilgrims do not face any inconvenience or danger," the minister said.

Rescue teams waded through mud on Thursday searching for more than 1,400 people missing after flash floods and landslides struck the Nepal-Tibet border, as the death count rose again to 389, with entire villages swept away. (AFP)

"Thirty-three individuals were registered with the Secretariat. Contact was established with one of them today, and we have also reached out to the families of the remaining 32. Five of these individuals fall within the Kolkata Police jurisdiction, while 27 are under the West Bengal Police area. Local police stations and our civil administration are in regular contact with all these families, and we are making every possible effort to assist them.  I have been in direct communication with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Home Ministry in New Delhi," says West bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Odisha Youth and Sports Services and Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj on Thursday said the state government is in constant touch with the Government of India and its officials to trace and assist Odia tourists and others stranded in Nepal following the devastating flash floods.

Speaking to IANS, Suraj said the government is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with all available nodal officers and officials of the Union Home Department.

He informed that a group of around six football players from Khordha district, who were in Nepal, are safe and secure. The players are reportedly staying nearly 300 km away from the worst-affected area. Officials are in regular contact with their coach, and the group is scheduled to return on August 30.

The minister said a national-level institution had taken the players to a private location for a football-related programme. (IANS)

"I just want to know if they are safe," says daughter of Chennai couple who went on a pilgrimage to the neighbouring country, hit by flash floods.

An NRI couple from Odisha have gone missing in Nepal following devastating flash floods there, and efforts were underway to trace them, officials said on Thursday.

Sandeep Mohapatra and his wife Sidharthi Kumari Sahu, natives of Khurda district and settled in Australia since 2018, have been untraceable since the flash floods hit the Himalayan nation, said Pritish Panda, the nodal officer appointed to assist distressed Odias in Nepal.

"We are trying to establish contact with them. Their mobile phones are switched off," he told PTI.

The couple reached Nepal from Australia on August 22. (PTI)

Indian Nationals not contactable: 290

Indian Nationals rescued :

- 63 workers of the Trishuli-I project

- 21 from Tamil Nadu

Indo-Nepal Maitri Bus Sewa between Delhi and Kathmandu on August 28-29 put on hold due to flash flood in neighbouring country, says Delhi Transport Corporation.

1. Scale: Flash floods triggered by an ice-rock avalanche on the Bhotekoshi River have devastated Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading; at least 175 deaths and 820 missing are reported.

2. Infrastructure: 19 bridges and 40 km of roads have been destroyed, severely restricting rescue access.

3. Indian Pilgrims: Tamil Nadu has 103 affected pilgrims; 21 rescued, while 37 remain unaccounted for. Missing/stranded groups include Kerala (53), Andhra Pradesh (7), Karnataka (5) and West Bengal (32).

4. Rescue: Nepal Army, Police and private operators have deployed 14-15 helicopters. 123 people have been rescued, including 114 by the Army.
 

According to the latest statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, 285 Indians cannot be contacted still. Meanwhile, 54 people, including 33 workers of the Trishul-I Project and 21 persons from Tmil Nadu, have been rescued.

The Chandigarh administration on Thursday urged citizens to provide information about any city resident who may be missing following the recent flash floods in Nepal.

"In view of the recent flash floods in Nepal, citizens are requested to inform the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, U.T. Chandigarh, if they have any information regarding any person residing in Chandigarh who may be missing or untraced following the incident," an official statement from the administration said.

The administration has shared a control room number and an email address for residents to submit any relevant details.

"The information received will be compiled and shared with the authorities concerned to facilitate the tracing of missing persons and provide necessary assistance to the affected families," it said. (PTI)

The administration has sounded a high alert in the Maharajganj and Kushinagar districts of Uttar Pradesh while stepping up the monitoring of the Gandak and other water bodies downstream of rivers in Nepal.

As many as 53 Keralites, including children, are stranded in Nepal following devastating floods, NORKA Roots said on Thursday. NORKA Roots is the Keralam government agency that coordinates overseas affairs and welfare services for non-resident Keralites.

Devastating floods on the Nepal-Tibet border have killed at least 359 people, Nepali police said in an update on Thursday, a day after the disaster along the Himalayan nation's border with Tibet.

"As of 5:00 pm Thursday, 359 people have died," Nepal Police said in a statement. Chinese state media had earlier reported "major casualties" from a mudslide at a Tibet border hub with three dead, taking the total killed to at least 362. (AFP)

The Odisha government set up a control room with a 24x7 helpdesk at Odisha Niwas in New Delhi to assist people from the state who may be stranded or in distress amid the devastating flash flood in Nepal.

"In view of the flood situation in Nepal, a 24x7 Control Room has been set up at Odisha Niwas, New Delhi, to provide necessary assistance to persons from Odisha in distress. Mob: 91-7428135044/ 8527580245; Landline: 011-23012807," the Odisha government said. (ANI)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that 288 Indian nationals remain uncontactable following the devastating flash floods in Nepal on Wednesday morning, while around 200 Indians undertaking the Mansarovar Yatra have sought evacuation.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday said a large group from Sadhguru's Isha Foundation also remains untraceable in the Himalayan nation, while 21 people from Tamil Nadu have been rescued. Several Indians also remain stranded on the Chinese side, he said.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday said India has sent two aircraft carrying relief materials to Nepal as part of its assistance following the disaster. He said communication lines in the affected areas have been "totally disrupted". (ANI)

Nepal's police say the death count in massive flash floods has risen to at least 353. (Associated Press)

According to the latest information received from China via Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based on satellite images and preliminary analysis, it has been reported that the river has been blocked, forming a lake at the location where the flood originated yesterday, Bhadra 10.

The information mentions that the said lake is growing in size and there appears to be a risk of it bursting.

Keeping this situation in mind, until further notice is issued, residents of the downstream areas of the Bhotekoshi River, travelers, rescue personnel deployed in rescue operations, and all concerned parties are requested to exercise special vigilance and remain in safe locations away from riverbanks and risk-prone areas.

Death count in Nepal flash floods rises to 332. A search is continuing for survivors.

More than 40 charter flights by private helicopters have taken off from Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport on Thursday to carry relief supplies to flood-affected areas of Nepal, including Rasuwa, authorities said.

The flights were coordinated and managed by the Nepal Army, with its 14th battalion stationed at the airport overseeing the transportation of relief materials from a collection centre to private helicopters, the Kantipur newspaper reported.

The flash floods have caused widespread devastation across three districts of Nepal, with the death toll rising to 270 after 93 more bodies were recovered, Nepal Police said on Thursday. (PTI)

According to the Gujarat government, 11 people from Gujarat are missing, including the Gujaratis living abroad. Of them, three each are missing from Ahmedabad and Surat, and two are missing from Anand. One person each is missing from Rajkot, US (relatives in Amreli) and Australia (relatives in Mehsana).

Pope Leo 'saddened' by deaths from Nepal flood, says Vatican.

At least 288 Indians continue to be missing in Nepal flash floods that hit Wednesday morning. Rescue operations are underway, said Randhir Jaiswal, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs. 

Death count in Nepal flash floods has increased to 270.

Nearly 100 Chinese nationals are missing in Nepal after massive flooding at the border region, Beijing's foreign ministry said on Thursday.

"In the disaster-stricken area on the Nepalese side, the number of Chinese citizens missing is nearly 100," ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters, adding that China's embassy in Nepal was "seeking further verification" from Nepalese authorities.

Nepal's Tourism Board said 517 foreigners remained out of contact on Thursday, more than 24 hours after a deadly flood tore through the border region with Tibet.

Among the missing are 178 from India, 65 from the United States, 53 from Ukraine, 51 from Malaysia, 35 from Australia, 33 from Britain and 25 from Canada. In addition, there are nine from Singapore, eight from Germany and eight from Russia.

Congress MP and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor has welcomed India's prompt relief for Nepal in the wake of the devastating flash floods, but warned against the 2016-style boasting in the Indian media about the help extended to the neighbouring country.

Calling the 2016 episode a low point in India-Nepal ties, Shashi Tharoor, speaking at the NDTV World Anviksha Summit in Kathmandu, said he has always called for a change in India's approach to Nepal.

In 2016, when Nepal was hit by a massive earthquake, the coverage of Indian relief efforts in sections of the Indian media had led to widespread anger and resentment among the Nepalese people.

Calling the media coverage then "problematic", Tharoor said those in distress and getting help need not be told so by those who are giving help.

Voices in Nepal have questioned that even when the border facilities at the Rasuwagadhi-Gyirong crossing and Gyirong port were hit, warnings could have been issued to save lives downstream.

A statement from Chinese Embassy in Nepal said, "Fake: The collapse of the geological disaster dam on the Chinese side caused major losses to the Nepali side." 

"An earthquake or earthquake like glacier collapse occurred on the Nepali side on the morning of August 26, 2026, triggering huge mudslides, which caused significant casualties and left people missing on both the Nepali and Chinese sides of the Gyirong- Rasuwagadhi border region," the statement added.

"Accusation helps nothing, cooperation saves lives," the statement reiterated.

In Nepal, it is Narayani, and by the time it reaches India, the river is called Gandak. It is the same river that flows from Nepal into India.

The Narayani river originates near the Tibet-Nepal border and enters Nepal from the Mustang region. Crossing the Indo-Nepal border at Triveni Dham, the river reaches Valmikinagar in Bihar.

"From Valmikinagar, Gandak winds its way through the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar before merging into the Ganga at Hajipur and Sonepur," according to the Living Waters Museum report.

Speaking at the NDTV World Anviksha Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal Foreign  Minister Shisir Khanal confirmed that 160 people have died and thousands remained untraced after the tragedy in the Rasuwa region. 

The minister also informed that at least 300 Indian nationals, mostly Masarovar pilgrims, have been reported missing in the flash floods.

"Foreign nationals, including Indians, take the route in the affected area to the Masarovar Yatra. Close to 300 Indians have been reported mssing and the government is trying to establish contact with them," Khanal said.

Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has extended his condolences to the families of Nepal flash floods victims.

"I pray for all those who have lost their lives, and offer my sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved and to all those affected by this tragedy," he said in a statement.

Nepal's disaster agency said that 823 people remained out of contact on Thursday, more than 24 hours after a deadly flood tore through the border region with Tibet.

The 823 includes at least 579 tourists, both Nepali and foreigners, it said in an update. At least 165 people are confirmed killed, in both Nepal and in China, where a further 558 people are reported missing.

(AFP)

In a rescue operation conducted by the Nepali Army this morning, 116 people were safely rescued from Timure in Rasuwa, Prime Minister Balen Shah said in a statement.

Among those rescued, 95 are Nepali citizens and 21 are Indian citizens. In addition, 7 Nepali citizens trapped inside a tunnel have also been successfully rescued.

"Efforts are underway to rapidly deliver essential relief supplies. Generators, portable mobile towers, medical supplies, tents, and machines for cutting iron and stone, along with other essential materials, are being transported to the affected areas," he added.

Forty-seven people from a group including two children are missing in Nepal following devastating flooding on the country's border with Tibet, their tour company told AFP on Thursday.

The group included 15 Australians, 10 Canadians, nine Nepalese, eight Americans, two Britons, two Singaporeans, and one Russian-American dual citizen, Himalayan Glacier managing director Sanket Pandey said.

Aerial footage taken during a rescue mission in Nepal shows the horrific aftermath of the flooding that just left muddy skeletons of villages in its wake. The Nepali Army has been carrying out flights and has rescued scores of people, while others living near the river in danger zones had been told to relocate.

A 32-member group from Kolkata on Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra was among many from West Bengal who went untraceable after the flash floods in Nepal on Wednesday, an official said.

The group, comprising 30 tourists and two tour managers, left the city on August 21 and reached Nepal the following day, he said.

The group reached Rasuwagadhi in the morning to cross into Tibet. Its members were at the immigration office around 8.30 am when the flash flood struck the area along the Nepal-Tibet border, he added.

A glacial collapse caused seismic activity and "catastrophic" downstream impacts in Nepal and Tibet, the US Geological Survey said Thursday.

The agency said seismic activity initially reported as an earthquake "was instead a glacial collapse and debris flow" that "caused subsequent catastrophic impacts downstream."

Emergency helpline numbers for contacting the Embassy of India in Kathmandu:

977 985 131 6807

977 970 910 7500

977 981 032 6117

These emergency numbers can also be contacted through WhatsApp.

The US government on Wednesday extended its condolences over the deadly floods in Nepal and promised to provide $500,000 in emergency assistance, the State Department said.

"The United States extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the devastating flash floods in the Rasuwa district of Nepal," the agency said, adding that Washington is deploying a disaster response advisor to the region while pledging to provide $500,000 to support rescue efforts.

Thirty-four Australians are missing following flash flooding through the Nepal-Tibet border region, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday.

"At this point Nepal is a developing country, it doesn't have the resources that an event like that would have in Australia, so information is difficult," he told a panel discussion.

"Our thoughts are with all those who will be concerned about their loved ones today."

Bangladesh has offered condolences over the sudden flash floods and mudslide in Nepal, causing death and destruction, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The people and government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman express solidarity with the government and the friendly people of Nepal in this difficult time", it added.

"We express our deep condolences for the deceased. We hope for early recovery and treatment of those missing.", the statement said.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale on Wednesday expressed deep condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the devastating floods in Nepal and conveyed solidarity with all those affected and injured.

In a statement, Hosabale said, "The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh expresses its deepest condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives in the devastating floods in Nepal's northern border areas. We also express our heartfelt sympathy and solidarity with all those affected and injured by this calamity."

Vigilance has been stepped up in Uttarakhand's border district of Champawat following severe floods in Nepal on Wednesday. The Tanakpur post of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been placed on high alert, and people have been urged to stay away from the banks of the Sharda River, officials said.

According to officials, the Tanakpur post in Champawat district has been put on high alert under the instructions of SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi.

The SDRF's Tanakpur team is continuously monitoring and patrolling vulnerable riverbank areas, including the Sharda Ghat, the Sharda Barrage, and surrounding localities. The team is keeping a close watch on the river's water level and potential risks while maintaining coordination with the local administration.

The World Bank on Wednesday offered Nepalese Rs. 25 billion ($163.88 million) in emergency financial assistance to flood-hit Nepal for the rescue, relief and reconstruction of affected areas, according to the Ministry of Finance.

Soon after news of the flood spread, the World Bank's Country Director for Nepal, David Sislen, informed Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle that up to NRs. 25 billion could be mobilised from various sources as emergency assistance.

(PTI)

The Indian Embassy in China on Wednesday issued an advisory providing contact points for Indian nationals stranded in flash floods in areas along the Tibet-Nepal border to seek assistance.

Nearly 100 people were killed and over 750, including 133 Indian nationals, remain missing after a massive flash flood originating in Tibet swept through central Nepal, devastating several towns and villages, washing away critical bridges, and crippling a dozen hydropower projects.

"In view of the recent flash flood in the border areas in the Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China, Indian nationals stranded in the vicinity can seek assistance from the following contact points," the embassy said in a social media post. Indian nationals can contact Chinese officials on the ground at 0086 139 8999 0012, it said.

(PTI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath about the expected surges in rivers in the two states after devastating flash floods in Nepal.

Expressing condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones in this disaster, Shah said on 'X' that the Central government stands with Nepal in this hour of crisis.

"The devastation caused by the floods in Nepal is extremely heartbreaking," he said.

The Delhi Transport Corporation is closely monitoring the flood situation in Nepal, and presently there is no disruption in the international bus service between Delhi and Kathmandu, a senior transport department official said on Wednesday.

The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) runs buses between the two capital cities three days a week from the Ambedkar Stadium Terminal near Delhi Gate.

(PTI)

Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah has pitched for unity after a deadly flash flood swept the Himalayan nation. At least 95 people have been reported dead.

Shah took to Facebook to appeal to citizens to keep patience and stand together.

"Please be patient. The government takes full responsibility for your rescue, treatment, food and shelter. In times of such a disaster, we all need to stand together," he said in a statement.

Death count in Nepal flash floods rises to 95, news agency AFP reported. 

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay expressed his deepest condolences over the devastating flash floods in Nepal that have claimed numerous lives and left many, including pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, missing. In a statement, he conveyed his grief to the bereaved families, urged government authorities to expedite search and rescue operations, and prayed for the safe return and speedy recovery of all affected victims.

At least 77 pilgrims from Sadhguru's Isha Foundation are missing after horrific flash floods hit Nepal this morning. The team was at the immigration office on its way back from Kailash Mansarovar, the spiritual leader said in an online post.

"A terrible and tragic flash flood has taken place at Gyirong in Tibet - China, and one of our Kailash groups was caught in it. While on their way back, they were at the immigration office when the flood occurred and the building and much of the town seems to have been flooded," Sadhguru said.

Death count in Nepal flash flood rises to 46, news agency PTI reported. 

The death count from the devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to at least 22. Police officials told the news agency AP that additional bodies have been recovered along the swollen Bhote Koshi River as search and rescue teams continue operations across the worst-affected districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading.  

Nearly 400 pilgrims, including over 100 Indian nationals travelling for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, have lost contact in the Rasuwagadhi checkpoint area following early Wednesday morning flash floods. The disaster destroyed key roads and critical infrastructure while sweeping through villages along the Nepal-China border across Rasuwa and Dhading districts.  

The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported that a magnitude 4.9 earthquake in Tibet preceded the devastating flash flood in Nepal. The tremor struck the region earlier in the morning before floodwaters swept through the Bhote Koshi River.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah to express deep condolences over the loss of lives caused by the devastating flash floods. During the conversation, PM Modi assured Nepal of India's full support and extended all possible humanitarian and relief assistance to aid in search, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts.

India is preparing to send relief material to flood-hit Nepal as soon as possible to assist in search, rescue, and rehabilitation operations following the devastating flash floods.

At least 16 bodies have been recovered following the flash floods in the Bhote Koshi River across Nepal's Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts.

According to SSP Rajendra Prasad Dhamala, spokesperson for the Bagmati Province Police Office, one body was recovered in Rasuwa, nine in Nuwakot, and six in Dhading. Additionally, 32 security personnel, comprising officers from the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force, are currently reported missing.

105 Indians among 384 tourists missing in Nepal flash floods

At least eight people have died, and several others remain missing as a flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River swept through Nepal's Nuwakot and Dhading districts. The floodwater came from the Tibetan side of the border, causing extensive damage in Nepal, according to Nepali media reports.

Citing Central Police Spokesperson Deputy Inspector General of Police Abinarayan Kafle, Nepal News reported that at least eight bodies have been recovered from Nuwakot and Dhading districts so far. Read more

The Nepal government has deployed two Army helicopters for search and rescue operations. Prime Minister Balendra Shah has also called a meeting to discuss the flooding and the government response. 

At least 8 bodies recovered after flash floods hit Nepal, local media reports

High-alert warnings have been issued for settlements along riverbanks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan districts that face flood risks.

Residents living in low-lying areas and along riverbanks have been advised to move to safer, elevated locations immediately. Authorities have also urged people to avoid unnecessary travel along the Prithvi Highway and other riverside routes as rescue and emergency teams remain on standby.

District-level disaster management authorities are coordinating rescue operations and mobilising emergency resources in the affected areas.

• A sudden flash flood swept through the Bhote Koshi River on Wednesday morning, causing widespread damage in the Nepal-China border region.
• The sudden rise in the Bhote Koshi River, believed to have originated in the Tibet region, began at around 9 am and caused significant damage to infrastructure in Rasuwa. 
• Roads, hydropower facilities, electricity transmission lines and substations have reportedly been affected, officials said.
• High-alert warnings have been issued for settlements along riverbanks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan districts that face flood risks.