Flood Fury / Nepal Flash Floods: Death Toll Mounts, Survivors Pulled from Hydropower Tunnel

Kathmandu, Sep 5: Nepal’s flood tragedy continues to escalate, with the official death toll reaching 1,344 as recovery teams pull more bodies from devastated districts.

The latest figures, released by Nepal Police at 8 am Saturday, confirm the Bhote Koshi River has swept away thousands, leaving families grieving and entire communities in ruins.

Authorities warn the toll could rise further, as 4,886 people, including 606 foreigners, remain out of contact. Many are feared trapped inside tunnels of 11 hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors.

Also read: India Sends 95 Tonnes of Relief to Nepal

On Friday, rescuers pulled two survivors from the tunnel of the 60MW Upper Trishuli 3A project in Rasuwa district, offering a rare glimmer of hope.

The government confirmed that search, rescue, and relief operations are ongoing, with security agencies intensifying efforts in flood‑hit regions.

Police reported that 8,962 individuals have been rescued so far, including 1,552 foreigners. To aid identification of victims, DNA samples have been collected from 1,260 deceased persons and 1,012 relatives, totaling 2,272 samples.

Nepal Police has deployed 7,912 personnel for operations, though the disaster has also affected its ranks — 65 officers have been impacted and 25 remain missing.

The floods have wreaked havoc on infrastructure, destroying homes, bridges, and hydropower facilities along the river systems. The government has appealed for international assistance, stressing that support will be crucial for the restoration and rebuilding process once rescue and relief phases conclude.

As recovery continues, the tragedy underscores the immense human and physical toll of the disaster, with Nepal facing one of its deadliest floods in recent history.

(IANS)