NEPAL PRESS BRIEFING: BHOTE KOSHI FLOODS – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kathmandu

Monday, 31 August 2026 KATHMANDU — The Government of Nepal has escalated search, rescue, and humanitarian operations to maximum capacity following the catastrophic flooding along the Bhote Koshi River corridor. Speaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ third daily press briefing, official spokespersons reported that 903 bodies have been recovered from affected areas, while approximately 4,200 individuals—including roughly 590 foreign nationals from 39 countries—remain unaccounted for. Emergency Operations & Foreign Casualties Responders have successfully rescued over 10,000 people from affected districts, including more than 323 foreign tourists and travelers.

Security agencies, alongside specialized international teams, are conducting complex rescue missions across hard-hit zones including Mailung (Chilime), Syafrubesi, and Upper Trishuli 3A: Subterranean Rescue Operations: Specialized technical crews from India (11 personnel) and China (9 personnel), alongside a team from the Republic of Korea, are working in coordination with Nepali authorities to conduct subterranean searches in flooded hydroelectric project tunnels.Identification Protocols: An 18-member forensic team from India specializing in DNA analysis arrived on 29 August. Due to decomposition risks, unrecognized remains are being temporarily buried following international standards after taking DNA samples to ensure families can identify and exhume their loved ones for final rites.

Disaster Victim Identification (DVI): Coordination is ongoing with Singapore to deploy specialized DVI units. Foreign Emergency Support: A dedicated Emergency Control Room (ECR) at the Ministry is coordinating directly with foreign diplomatic missions and affected families abroad to track missing foreign citizens. Cross-Border & High-Level CoordinationThe Government of Nepal is maintaining continuous real-time data exchanges with the People’s Republic of China regarding hydrological and meteorological conditions, glacial lake stability, and border flood risks.

Chinese authorities have facilitated the safe repatriation of Nepali citizens in Tibet through border crossings at Hilsa.Prime Minister Balendra Shah has engaged in high-level diplomatic outreach, holding direct phone consultations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has communicated with counterpart dignitaries from the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and several other nations.”The ground reality is much more complex and devastating than what we have seen and understood through different mediums… even the word ‘flood’ can hardly capture the actual experience and reality.”— Shisir Khanal, Minister for Foreign Affairs, following an aerial and ground inspection of affected sites.

International Aid & Reconstruction OutlookEmergency supplies—including belly bridges, generators, solar lighting, DNA testing kits, temporary shelters, and medical packets—have arrived from India, China, the United States, Japan, the UAE, and South Korea. Further non-food specialized gear, such as high-capacity drones, freezers, and LiDAR technology, has been requested from partners including Singapore, China, and the U.S. A preliminary damage assessment is underway, to be followed by a comprehensive Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) to determine the required international assistance for rebuilding destroyed roads, bridges, power plants, and community infrastructure. The Government reminds those wishing to contribute to use the verified Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund QR channels.