KATHMANDU, Aug 30: The death toll from the devastating Nepal flash floods climbed to 788 on Sunday as rescue teams recovered more bodies from eight affected districts and continued an urgent search for more than 2,500 missing people.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said 2,502 people remained unaccounted for, while 9,435 people had so far been rescued from areas hit by the disaster.
The calamity struck on August 26 after an ice rock avalanche triggered by a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border unleashed a massive torrent of water, mud and debris. The floodwaters swept through towns and villages across northern and central Nepal, causing widespread destruction and damaging critical infrastructure, including hydropower facilities.
Rescue and recovery operations entered their fifth day on Sunday, with teams working across the worst hit areas to locate survivors and recover those who may have been swept away by the floods.
The disaster also caused fatalities on the Chinese side of the border. According to Chinese media reports, 16 people were killed and nearly 550 others remained missing in Tibet.
Meanwhile, authorities issued a fresh warning after water levels in the Bhotekoshi River increased again.
In a statement, the NDRRMA urged residents and concerned agencies to remain cautious, saying the water level in the flooded river had risen to some extent. The agency said further updates would be issued after additional information was received.
The Bhotekoshi River flows southward from the Himalayan border region and carried the floodwaters downstream following the August 26 disaster, causing extensive damage along its course.
India has also been closely monitoring the situation because of the large number of its citizens and people of Indian origin affected by the floods. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday that more than 275 Indian nationals and 128 persons of Indian origin were still missing or could not be contacted in Nepal.
On Sunday, the MEA shared a list of 149 people who had been rescued, providing an update on efforts to assist Indians caught in the disaster.
With thousands still missing, search and rescue teams remain engaged in operations across the affected districts, while authorities continue to monitor river levels and warn communities in vulnerable areas to take precautionary measures.