Nepal Flood Death Toll Rises to 675 as Rescue Teams Search Hydropower Tunnels and US Pledges Aid

Scale of the devastation

The death toll from Wednesday's glacial river surge in northern Nepal reached 675 by Sunday, with 2,498 people remaining missing across affected valleys. Across the northern border in Tibet, Chinese authorities confirmed seven deaths and 554 missing individuals, pushing the combined regional death toll to 682 and total missing above 3,000. The surge originated along the Bhotekoshi River basin in Rasuwa district before sweeping down into multiple low-lying regions. Hardest hit areas include Chitwan district, where authorities recorded 223 deaths, followed by Nawalparasi East with 158 fatalities, Gorkha with 48, and Dhading with 45. Among the unaccounted in Nepal are 517 foreign nationals, along with 45 soldiers, 27 police officers, 15 customs officials, 13 armed police personnel, and four immigration staff.

Hydropower tunnels and rescue operations

Search and rescue teams intensified operations across at least 11 hydroelectric facilities along the Trishuli River basin that were cut off by floodwaters and mudslides. Officials estimated that at least 933 workers were stationed inside or near these power plants when the water struck. At the Trishuli 3A project, a joint unit of 82 personnel (comprising 62 Nepalese Army soldiers and 20 police officers) worked continuously to clear thick sediment blocking the tunnel entrance. A specialized rescue contingent from India arrived in the Trishuli area on Saturday, launching helicopter reconnaissance flights over Chilime and Langtang to assist local teams. By Saturday, emergency workers had pulled over 350 people alive from power complexes, while 16 military and private helicopters supported the broader deployment of nearly 15,000 security personnel.

Morgue overflow and identification efforts

The influx of bodies rapidly overwhelmed medical facilities across Nepal, where national hospital mortuary capacity stands at approximately 350 bodies. In response, authorities in severely impacted areas such as Chitwan, Pokhara, and Nuwakot began conducting immediate individual burials after collecting DNA samples, fingerprints, and assigning official reference numbers. At Bharatpur District Hospital in Chitwan, which received 171 bodies, only four of 233 recovered victims had been identified due to severe decomposition. Nepal Police established a digital catalog accessible via social media QR codes, enabling families of missing people to compare photographs and clothing descriptions against unidentified victims.

The bodies and remains recovered from reception centres, health facilities and riverbanks are in an advanced state of decomposition and can no longer be identified.

International aid and economic recovery

Nepal formally appealed for foreign assistance on Saturday, requesting refrigerated storage units, forensic experts, and specialized equipment to handle the crisis. Nepalese Foreign Minister Shishir Janal discussed joint search and relief operations with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi while government officials prepared plans for a donor conference.

The level of devastation is very important. We hope there will be international aid for recovery and reconstruction.

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle stated that the country will require several billion dollars for long-term reconstruction, though an initial government relief fund collected over 5 billion Nepalese rupees (about 28.2 million euros). On Sunday, the United States announced more than 3.6 million dollars in emergency humanitarian aid to supply three months of food assistance to 10,000 affected households. Pope Leo XIV also sent financial aid through Caritas Nepal, joining ongoing operational contributions from India, China, Australia, and Japan.