KATHMANDU: The death toll from the catastrophic Bhote Koshi flood has risen to 1,204, while 4,216 people—including dozens of security personnel and hundreds of foreign nationals—remain missing as search and rescue operations intensify across heavily damaged districts.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 11,993 people have been safely rescued as of Wednesday evening.
NDRRMA Spokesperson Shanti Mahat stated that 21,314 security personnel (9,199 Nepali Army, 7,912 Nepal Police, and 4,203 Armed Police Force) are deployed in the field.
Rescue efforts along riverbanks, landslide zones, and flooded settlements face severe challenges due to destroyed roads and infrastructure.
The worst-affected districts report the following fatality counts: Chitwan (348), Nawalparasi East (217), Nawalparasi West (202), Nuwakot (155), Rasuwa (115), Gorkha (69), Dhading (60), and Tanahun (38).
In remote, isolated areas, the Nepali Army has prioritized aerial operations, executing 690 helicopter flights to rescue 4,091 Nepalis and 273 foreign nationals—including 80 flights on Wednesday alone.
Private sector aircraft have contributed an additional 29 flights for rescues and relief distribution.
Among those missing are 83 security personnel (45 Nepali Army, 25 Nepal Police, and 13 Armed Police Force), alongside 1,558 residents from Nuwakot, roughly 865 from Rasuwa, about 900 hydroelectric workers, 583 foreign nationals, 164 Nepalis in the tourism sector, 17 customs and immigration officials, seven local representatives, and other local government employees.
All state security agencies, local authorities, and relevant bodies remain actively deployed to deliver relief, medical services, and essential supplies as search efforts for the missing are further intensified.
