Kathmandu, August 28 — The death toll from the devastating floods triggered by the Bhote Koshi and other rivers has reached 469, according to Nepal Police. Search and rescue operations for those still missing, along with relief distribution and the evacuation of affected people, continued across several districts on Friday.
Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Army and local residents have been jointly involved in search and rescue operations. A total of 4,348 Nepal Police personnel have so far been deployed to flood-affected areas for rescue, relief and search operations.
According to the latest police figures, 178 bodies have been recovered in Chitwan, 110 in East Nawalparasi, 44 in Gorkha, 37 in Nuwakot, 33 in Dhading, 28 in Tanahun, 27 in West Nawalparasi and 12 in Rasuwa.
Some of the remains recovered in Gorkha reportedly include human body parts.
1,545 injured rescued
Authorities have rescued 1,545 injured people following the floods. The injured are receiving treatment at Trishuli Hospital in Nuwakot and various hospitals in Kathmandu.
A total of 84 injured people are currently undergoing treatment or have been discharged from hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley.
102 bodies taken to Pokhara for identification
A total of 102 bodies recovered along the Trishuli and Narayani riverbanks have been transported to Pokhara for identification and forensic examination.
Kaski Assistant Chief District Officer Chitrangad Baral said the bodies were brought to Pokhara because adequate facilities for managing and examining the remains were unavailable in districts including Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun and East Nawalparasi.
According to Baral, 41 bodies were brought from East Nawalparasi, 23 from Tanahun, 11 from Gorkha and 27 from Dhading on Thursday night. The bodies were managed at the Western Regional Hospital.
Nine bodies recovered from different locations in Tanahun were examined at Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences before being transferred to Manipal Teaching Hospital.
Government and private hospitals in Pokhara currently have a combined capacity to manage 88 bodies. Local authorities are preparing to issue public notices after forensic examination to assist in identification.
Cabinet meeting called to review flood response
Meanwhile, the government is preparing to hold a Cabinet meeting on Friday to make necessary decisions regarding rescue, relief, search operations and other issues arising from the floods in Rasuwa and other affected areas.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah called the meeting after visiting flood-hit areas of Nuwakot on Thursday.
According to the Prime Minister's Press and Research Adviser Deepa Dahal, the Cabinet meeting has been scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar.
Prithvi Highway remains blocked
The Kathmandu–Muglin–Narayangadh road section, including the Prithvi Highway, remains closed due to flood-related damage.
Large amounts of mud and debris deposited by the flood have blocked several sections of the highway in Galchhi and Gajuri rural municipalities of Dhading.
Authorities said mud clearance remains at two locations in Gajuri and one location in Galchhi. In some areas, the deposited mud is reportedly up to three metres deep.
Heavy equipment was used throughout Thursday to clear the debris, but the road has not yet been completely cleared. Authorities are working to reopen the highway within Friday.
The Nagdhunga–Muglin section has remained fully closed since Bhadra 10 due to the risk of further flooding, severely disrupting the main route connecting Kathmandu Valley with other parts of the country.
Rasuwa faces major road and bridge damage
The Trishuli–Mailung–Syafrubesi road section in Rasuwa has also remained completely blocked since Shrawan 8 because of the floods. Other major roads connecting Rasuwa have been closed since Shrawan 10.
The floods have completely damaged around 40 kilometres of roads linking Rasuwa.
A total of 41 bridges in the major border area connecting Nepal and China have reportedly been completely destroyed by the floods.
At present, only seven Bailey bridges, each capable of spanning up to 50 metres, are available. Authorities are assessing the requirements and feasibility of installing them at damaged locations.
India and China have also pledged to provide Bailey bridges immediately for other damaged locations.
The government has prioritized reopening the Prithvi Highway and reconnecting Rasuwa with the national road network. Preparations are underway to install a Bailey bridge at Betrabati.
Until the road to Betrabati is reopened, access to Syafrubesi via Dhunche remains difficult.
To accelerate road clearance and reconstruction, 20 heavy pieces of equipment—10 from the government and 10 from the private sector—have been deployed.
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