Nepal floods LIVE: Bihar, UP, Himachal on alert as toll mounts in Nepal; Uttarakhand steps up glacier monitoring

Nepal flood LIVE: A local resident described the scale of devastation caused by the flash floods in Nepal, saying an entire market, a temple and a school were swept away, leaving little trace of the area that once stood there.

"There was a temple right in front, and this entire area was a market. In that open space in the middle, there used to be a school," the local said.

The resident said teachers managed to evacuate all the students and take them to safety on the day the floods struck.

"Now, there is absolutely no trace left. Everything was swept away," the local said.

The resident also said several people were killed in the floods, but the exact number of deaths in the area remains unclear.

"Many people died here; there is still no information regarding exactly how many lives were lost," the local said.

Nepal flood LIVE: For families anxiously awaiting news of pilgrims caught in the flash floods in the Nepal-Tibet region, the devastating images of destruction have been difficult to watch, but hope remains as they wait for their loved ones to be traced.

The number of people from Gujarat who remain untraceable rose to 26, including several Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), according to a list released by the State Emergency Operations Centre on Friday.

The untraceable include pilgrims with links to Ahmedabad, Anand, Rajkot, Valsad, Surat, Kheda, Amreli, Gandhinagar and Vadodara, while some of the NRIs are based in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, according to the list.

For the families, the uncertainty has made the wait particularly distressing as they follow reports and visuals of the destruction caused by the floods.

"It's difficult to see the horrific visuals of flash floods in Nepal, but we can't lose hope," said Rajkot resident Viral Nathwani, whose cousins are among those currently untraceable.

Nepal flood LIVE: Nepal's reconstruction efforts following the devastating floods could cost "billions of dollars," Foreign Minister Shishir Kanal said, as the country assesses the scale of damage caused by the disaster.

Nepal flood LIVE: Nepal Police have arrested 29 people for allegedly breaking into and stealing cash from a safe that was swept away by floodwaters, authorities said on Saturday.

Nepal flood LIVE: Picture shows a man gathering belongings retrieved from a damaged house after flash floods and mudslides, in Devighat, Nuwakot district, Nepal, August 29, 2026.

Nepal flood LIVE: India is stepping up monitoring of glaciers and known glacial lakes in Himalayan regions bordering Nepal and China, days after a deadly disaster along the Tibet-Nepal border.

Uttarakhand disaster management Minister Madan Kaushik said authorities have asked teams to closely monitor the region and remain vigilant for signs of a similar disaster.

“Since we share a border with Nepal, as a neighbour, and also have a similar geographic situation... we have asked our department to monitor all the glaciers and known glacial lakes in the region,” he told AFP.

Kaushik said teams had also been asked to monitor whether a similar situation was emerging anywhere in Uttarakhand.

Nepal flood fallout: Actor Amitabh Bachchan on Saturday expressed concern over the devastation caused by the deadly floods in Nepal, describing the destruction as "unbearable to watch".

In a note on his blog, Bachchan wrote, "On a more serious note the devastation of the floods in Nepal are unbearable to watch."

"The fury of nature can never be battled with .. its respect needs the presence of the divine .. we pray .. for that in itself is beyond all," he added.

Nepal flood fallout: A mechanical engineer from Himachal Pradesh’s Una district, who was working at the Trishuli Hydro Project in Nepal, has gone missing following the devastating flash floods in Rasuwa and other districts. Sukhvinder’s family has been unable to contact him since the disaster and has sought help from the Centre and local authorities.

His elder brother has travelled from Dubai to Kathmandu to help search for him, while the Himachal government is coordinating with the MEA and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

Nepal flood fallout: Bihar is closely monitoring the possible impact of the devastating Nepal floods, Bihar minister Ramkripal Yadav said on Saturday, assuring help to those affected in the state.

“Bihar is adjacent to Nepal, and the water that has come from Nepal in the past has affected many areas of Bihar, leading to loss of life and property, destruction of crops and homes. The Bihar government and the Chief Minister himself are monitoring this,” Yadav said.

“The Bihar government will provide every possible help. The flood victims of Bihar have the first right on Bihar's treasury, and it is secure for them. The government will work,” he added.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s flood death toll has risen to 626, with 2,426 people still missing, according to NDRRMA. 4,451 people have been rescued, including 191 from hydropower tunnels and 517 through helicopter operations.

Nepal flood fallout: Three bodies were recovered from the Gandak river in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar after they apparently drifted into Indian territory from Nepal following the devastating flash floods, officials said on Saturday.

The bodies were spotted near barrage pier No. 3 in the Madanpur-Sukrauli area of Khadda on Friday and were recovered by teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Their identities have not yet been established, with Nepal authorities also informed to help identify them.

Several vehicles and other debris, including household items, gas cylinders, furniture and logs, have also been washing up along the Gandak’s banks. Authorities have urged villagers not to enter the river to collect the items.

The development came a day after four unidentified bodies were recovered from a river in neighbouring Maharajganj district, with officials checking whether they could be linked to people missing after the Nepal floods.

Nepal floods LIVE: The Nepal disaster has underlined the importance of real-time cross-border flood warnings between Nepal and India.

Rivers do not stop at international borders. Water originating in Nepal can quickly travel downstream into Bihar and UP, leaving authorities with limited time to respond.

The CWC already monitors river levels across India, but experts have called for stronger real-time coordination with Nepal, particularly for hazards such as GLOFs, landslides and sudden releases from blocked rivers.

A 24/7 information-sharing mechanism could allow Indian authorities to receive early warnings about dangerous changes upstream and give states more time to alert vulnerable communities.

For Bihar and UP, where large populations live along flood-prone river systems, the ability to turn upstream warnings into immediate local action could prove critical during future Himalayan disasters.

Nepal floods: India has stepped up disaster preparedness in UP and Bihar following the devastating Nepal floods.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been placed on high alert, with 20 teams deployed across the two states amid concerns that the flood surge could raise Gandak river levels and affect border areas.

The Centre has also been monitoring the situation closely as water from Nepal moves downstream through interconnected river systems.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) and state authorities are tracking river levels at multiple locations, with several Bihar stations recording water levels above warning or danger marks.

Nepal floods: Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta on Saturday said the state’s Disaster Management Department was prepared to deal with possible Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) incidents, amid concerns following the devastating Nepal-Tibet floods.

Calling the disaster a “very tragic incident” and a global challenge, Gupta said climate change and global warming remained major concerns for the Himalayan region. “Our concern is that such an incident should not occur anywhere in the Himalayan range. Our Disaster Management Department has been prepared for such situations,” he said.

Nepal flood LIVE updates: About 233 bodies were recovered in Chitwan, followed by 158 in Nawalparasi East, 51 in Nuwakot, 48 in Gorkha, 47 in Nawalparasi West, 45 in Dhading, 31 in Tanahu and 13 in Rasuwa, according to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

Nepal flood LIVE updates: Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has asked the Centre to extend immediate and comprehensive humanitarian and disaster-relief assistance to Nepal following the devastating floods that have killed hundreds and caused much destruction.

In a letter dated August 28, addressed to home minister Amit Shah, Kharge said India must stand firmly with Nepal, citing the deep ties between the two countries.

Kharge asked the government to consider deploying National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, wherever required and in coordination with the Nepal government, to assist in rescue, evacuation and relief operations.

“The NDRF's expertise and experience in responding to natural disasters can provide valuable support in efforts to save lives and bring urgent relief to those facing this immense tragedy,” he said.

Kharge also aked the home ministry to treat the situation with “urgency and sensitivity” and take all necessary steps to provide assistance to people affected by the floods.

He said the loss of lives, destruction of homes and infrastructure, and displacement of people had left affected communities in Nepal in severe distress.

“The people of India share a deep and enduring bond with the people of Nepal. In this moment of profound suffering, India must stand firmly with our neighbours and extend every possible assistance,” Kharge said.

Nepal floods: The Nepal disaster has brought forth another Himalayan threat -- the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF).

A glacier collapse and massive movement of ice, rock and debris triggered Wednesday’s catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-China border. The disaster also created a new lake in the Himalayan region, raising fears of another sudden flood if the natural barrier holding back the water fails.

Such events can have consequences far beyond the immediate disaster zone because Himalayan rivers cross national borders.

For India, this makes monitoring upstream conditions in Nepal and Tibet crucial, particularly for downstream states such as UP and Bihar.

The disaster has also renewed calls for stronger early-warning systems and closer information sharing between countries sharing Himalayan river basins.

Nepal flood LIVE updates: Bihar minister Ramkripal Yadav described the Nepal flood tragedy as “extremely heartbreaking and serious” and said India was committed to supporting its neighbour.

“India is a friendly country to Nepal, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is concerned about it, has promised every kind of help, and is also providing assistance,” Yadav said.

On Indians affected by the disaster, he said the exact number of casualties was not yet known and expressed hope for the safe return of those affected.

On the flood threat in Bihar, Yadav said the state remained vigilant as water from Nepal has previously caused flooding and damage in several districts.

“The Bihar government and the Chief Minister himself are monitoring this... The Bihar government will provide every possible help.” He added that funds would be available for those affected by floods in the state. “The flood victims of Bihar have the first right on Bihar's treasury, and it is secure for them. The government will work.”

Nepal flood LIVE updates: The devastating floods in Nepal have triggered heightened vigilance in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar. Authorities monitor rivers flowing into India from Nepal. The Central Water Commission (CWC) is tracking the situation, while the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been placed on standby in vulnerable areas.

Nepal flood LIVE updates: Around 500 metres of damaged road near the Trishuli River in Rasuwa is hampering rescue and relief operations, with repair work disrupted by heavy rain and the threat of further flooding.

Nepal flood LIVE updates: Nepal will need an estimated $4 billion to $5 billion for rebuilding after devastating flash floods along its border with China, FM Swarnim Wagle said, as per Reuters.

Nepal flood LIVE updates: Former NDMA adviser Safi Ahsan Rizvi said the devastating Nepal floods highlighted the need for India to speed up preparedness against glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the Himalayas.

Rizvi said India has already launched a ₹150-crore National GLOF Risk Mitigation Programme covering four states and two Union Territories, but stressed that implementation needs to be accelerated.

“We do need to really scale that plan up and do it in a much faster, much speedier way in which there are no delays, and we can reduce the risk that comes out of those glacial lakes,” Rizvi said.

He also called for stronger cross-border coordination between India and Nepal, including a 24/7 communication link between the Central Water Commission and its counterpart in Nepal.

“I do feel that there is a great need for a 24-7 connection between the control rooms of the Central Water Commission in India and the equivalent institution in Nepal...” he said.

Nepal flood LIVE updates: An 11-member Indian team comprising medical personnel and tunnel rescue experts arrived in Nepal on Saturday to assist with flood relief operations, following a request from the Nepal government.

The team will support local authorities in areas hit by devastating flash floods that have killed more than 500 people and left nearly 2,000 missing.

Nepal flood LIVE updates: Rescue operations entered their fourth day on Saturday, but bad weather forced the suspension of helicopter operations as teams continued searching for hundreds of people missing along the Nepal-China border.

Nepali Army spokesperson Brig Gen Raja Ram Basnet said rescuers were still working at the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project, where more than 100 people are believed to be trapped in a tunnel containing up to 5 feet of mud.

More than 3,700 people have been rescued in Nepal, while the country has reported 1,924 missing. China has reported 554 missing and seven deaths in Tibet.

Rescuers remain on alert over a new Himalayan lake formed after a glacier collapse that triggered Wednesday’s floods. The lake’s water level, however, fell by around 10 metres from its peak on Thursday, Chinese state media reported.

Search operations are also continuing at the badly damaged Gyirong border crossing in Tibet, where rescuers have reached affected areas on foot, by rafts and with the help of drones. (AP)

Nepal flood LIVE updates: Nepal has introduced rules for foreign journalists covering the flood disaster, requiring international correspondents to obtain a permit before reporting from affected areas.

Foreign journalists must submit passports and visas, organisation-issued identity cards, a reference letter from their foreign office or embassy in Nepal, and details of their pay and benefits, among other documents.

They must apply online and then appear in person at the Department of Information to collect their reporting certificate and ID card. (The Katmandu Post)