Nepal rescue operation: Flash flood toll surpasses 950 as rescuers struggle through mud and debris

Rescuers worked on Monday to save hundreds of workers believed to be trapped inside tunnels at hydropower projects buried under mud after severe flooding along the Nepal-China border.

The death toll has crossed 950, while more than 4,400 people remain missing, as per AP.

A private group representing power companies said at least 900 workers were missing from 12 hydropower projects damaged by floods in Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. About 500 workers are believed to be trapped inside tunnels.

Nepal's army said four bodies were recovered from three tunnels filled with mud, according to AP.

Three out of six people from Sudhiyani village in Kushinagar, who went missing after the Nepal flash floods, have returned home, while the other three are still missing, officials said Monday, as per PTI.

Kaptanganj station officer Dhirendra Rai said the six had gone to work at a 216-megawatt hydroelectric project in Nepal's Rasuwa district, one of the worst-hit areas. Rajkumar Tiwari, Abhishek Tiwari, and Akash Kanojia have returned, while Abhay Tiwari (alias Dheeraj Tiwari), Aman Gaud, and Pankaj Rajbhar remain untraced.

The death toll from the floods rose to 939 on Monday, with around 4,000 people still missing, authorities said, according to PTI

Rescue teams and foreign experts are working to find workers feared trapped inside tunnels at hydropower projects along the Trishuli River. Hundreds of people are still reported missing, CNN reported.

A list prepared by Nepal's Independent Power Producers' Association showed that at least 93 people were missing from the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project as of Saturday.

Earlier Today, emergency teams searching the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project reported "no signs of human presence" at the site, according to Nepal's prime minister's office, as per CNN.

CNN reported, a father from central Nepal is searching for his missing son, who may be among the hundreds of unidentified bodies found after the flood six days ago.

Ujwal Ghimire traveled to Bharatpur to find out whether his son, Devendra, was among the dead. Devendra was working at the Upper Trishuli hydropower project, about 60 miles upstream, when the flood struck. He had just finished his night shift, and Ujwal has not heard from him since.

"I haven't found my boy," he told CNN as he left the center. "His face wasn't on the list here. So tomorrow we are going to Nawalparasi (district) and Gaidakot," he said.

Nepal rescue operation LIVE: The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is deploying a team including officers specialising in Disaster Victim Identification (DVI), Singapore's ministry of foreign affairs informed on Monday.

It also added that the government of Singapore will deliver humanitarian assistance to Nepal.

Nepal rescue operation LIVE: A group of 29 tourists from Tamil Nadu, who were rescued from Nepal, arrived at the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi.

They were received and welcomed by Tamil Nadu Minister for Non-Resident Tamils Welfare, K Thennarasu, and the Tamil Nadu Government's Special Representative in New Delhi, K Venkata Narayana, according to news agency PTI.

Nepal rescue operation LIVE: Sharing an update about India’s relief operations in flood-hit Nepal, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed in a post on X that, as of 9 pm on Monday, a total of 158 Indian nationals have been rescued.

Nepal rescue operation LIVE: NORKA Roots, a Kerala government agency that coordinates overseas affairs and welfare services for non-resident Keralites, said that six Keralites holding foreign citizenship remain untraced following the flash floods in Nepal, PTI reported.

The agency also stated that the six people yet to be contacted include four Australian nationals, one British national, and a US citizen.

Nepal rescue operation LIVE: According to a local media report, Kathmandu seeks additional assistance to identify the victims and reach people who may still be trapped.

Nepal is turning to foreign governments for specialised expertise and equipment as the scale of the rescue operation becomes clearer, the Kathmandu Post also reported.

Nepal rescue operation LIVE: The death toll from the flash floods in Nepal rose to 939 on Monday, with more bodies being recovered, according to PTI. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) on Monday informed about the rise in the death toll.

Nepal rescue operation LIVE: According to PTI, following the disaster in Nepal, 10,000 people have been rescued so far, as rescuers struggle to reach those still stranded amid intermittent rain.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Nepal stood at 903 on Monday, with 4,247 people still missing.

Nepal rescue operation LIVE: An Indian NGO from Amritsar headed to Rasuwa for relief work through treacherous terrain after the flash flood led to widespread devastation in Nepal.

Nepal rescue operation LIVE: A tunnel rescue team from India partnered with the Nepali Army to undertake joint search and rescue operations at hydropower tunnel sites, according to ANI.

Nepal rescue operation LIVE: Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, at a press conference, expressed condolences to the affected families in Nepal and added that India is making every possible effort to assist in the affected areas.

He said, "Our culturally connected neighbouring country Nepal is currently facing a severe natural calamity. I express my condolences to all the affected families, including several Indian families. The Government of India is making every possible effort to provide assistance in the affected areas of Nepal, and the Railways is also part of this effort."

"I am in constant contact with the railway zones along the border, including North Eastern Railway, East Central Railway and Northeast Frontier Railway, as well as their general managers. Railway officials are continuously working in coordination with district and state authorities and the Ministry of external affairs," he added.

Nepal rescue operation LIVE: Army rescue team found no one trapped inside the flood-hit Rasuwa hydropower tunnel, PTI reported. The search operation was concluded.

Nepal floods LIVE: In Rasuwa, a helicopter was brought into use by the Nepal Army to assess the surroundings.

ANI reported that the bodies of victims have been retrieved from the surrounding areas and will be airlifted to Trishuli.

Nepal floods LIVE: As flash floods affected Nepal, local organisations and NGOs have stepped up their efforts to provide relief material to survivors in Nuwakot district.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Rastriya Sarokar Manch national spokesperson Pratik Joshi said, "This is part of our 'Karmanishtha Abhiyaan' (Mission of Duty) campaign. This is our third batch--the third vehicle."

Small trucks were seen transporting relief material to flood-affected areas, the report stated.

"Our friends had also taken supplies from here previously; so, this is the third time we are bringing aid here. We have focused primarily on daily essentials--specifically food--and the most critical arrangements regarding food and accommodation," Joshi added.

Nepal floods LIVE: Relief material sent by India was distributed by the Nepal Army in the flash-flood-affected areas.

Nepal floods LIVE: A local from Trishuli told news agency ANI that his house was washed away in the flood.

"My house was washed away. I could never believe such a thing would happen. My family survived and is safe. I sent my children to a relative's house in Kathmandu. I have come here to get the administration to record my loss," he said.

Nepal floods LIVE: Nepal Centre for Disaster Management president Bishal Nath Upreti on the Nepal-Tibet flash floods, said, "It has already been five or six days. Initially, many thought it was a glacial lake outburst flood, or GLOF. Later, it became clear that there had been no lake burst in Tibet along that line, so that theory was discarded. It was then thought that an earthquake had caused an ice and rock fall. But the USGS later clarified that it was the other way around- a massive rock and ice fall into the valley generated the earthquake."

He added, "It was initially recorded at 4.2 magnitude but later revised to 5.2. So, the disaster was not caused by an earthquake; rather, the falling ice and rock generated the earthquake."

"We have always known about glacial lake outburst floods, where millions of cubic metres of water can rush down a valley, almost like a tsunami from the sky. But this was different; it was simply ice and rock falling down. Scientists are still trying to determine exactly what happened. Since nobody has reached the site, the research is based mainly on satellite imagery. One emerging hypothesis is that it was actually a massive rockslide, with the ice riding over the falling rock, rather than the glacier itself sliding down. As a scientist, I cannot confirm this yet; these are still developing hypotheses," Bishal added.

Nepal floods LIVE: Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Monday flagged off the 'Sikkim for Nepal' relief mission, sending a team to affected areas of Nepal.

Sharing the update on X (formerly Twitter), the CM wrote, "In a humble endeavour to extend a helping hand and convey our heartfelt solidarity with Nepal and its people, Sikkim has come forward to provide essential relief materials and medical assistance to those affected by this tragedy."

"In furtherance of this initiative, I flagged off a dedicated team of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha under the banner of “Sikkim for Nepal”, carrying essential relief supplies and medical aid for those in need," Tamang added.

"This initiative reflects the spirit of compassion, humanity and brotherhood that binds us together. In times of adversity, we must stand united and extend a helping hand to those in need. Our prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones, our thoughts are with those who are suffering, and our heartfelt solidarity remains with the people of Nepal as they begin the difficult journey of recovery and rebuilding," the chief minister said in the social media post.

Nepal floods LIVE: Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar, speaking about the situation in Nepal, informed that 13 more people are not traceable. He also said officials are in contact with the MEA and the Centre.

"I said this last night itself. 13 more people are not traceable; the rest have been traced. All our officials are in touch with the MEA and the Central Government. We have also sent our representatives. We have people who speak Kannada everywhere to make contact," news agency ANI quoted the chief minister as saying.

"Only one team is still not identified. The rest have been traced. Still, about 13 of them have not been traced as of today. My officials have been in touch with them; I spoke to some of them today. I have spoken to some. Everyone is in contact. Last night, I went to Delhi. I had some private work, and there I also discussed this," he added.

Nepal floods LIVE: A landslide occurred in Chekampa Chaurikharka, Ward No. 7 of Chumanubri Rural Municipality in Gorkha District on Monday, which subsequently blocked the Budhi Gandaki River, causing the stream to stop flowing for a short while.

However, NDRRMA said the situation is normal as water has started flowing again.

Nepal floods LIVE: Defence minister Rajnath Singh went to the Embassy of Nepal on Monday and expressed his condolences by signing a condolence book

“On behalf of the Government and people of India, I extend my deepest condolences to the people of Nepal and their Government, on the loss of precious lives and large-scale devastation caused by the flash flood on 26 August 2026.”

Calling it a “tragic” natural calamity, Singh said it has affected citizens of Nepal, as well as foreign and Indian nationals. He hoped for speedy of those who were injured and said that his thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives.

“As a close friend and partner, and ‘Sukh Dukh Ke Saathi’, India has always stood by Nepal. In this trying time also, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our Nepali brothers and sisters and are committed to support Nepal's efforts for search, rescue and rehabilitation,” he added.

Nepal floods LIVE: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday announced that Australia will send humanitarian assistance to Nepal, where more than 900 people have been killed and over 4,000 remain missing following devastating floods.

In a post on X, Albanese said, “In the coming days, an Australian Air Force C-17A will depart carrying humanitarian supplies, equipment and personnel to support communities devastated by the floods.”

“Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those Australians who are still missing. We’ll keep working with Nepal to get help where it’s needed most.”