Nepal flash floods LIVE: Death toll hits 626, over 2,400 missing as rescue operations intensify; Nepal thanks India for support

Aug 29, 2026 01:05 PM

Nepal thanks India for support

•  Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel expressed gratitude to India for its support following the devastating floods
• In a post on social media platform X, Paudel thanked President Droupadi Murmu for India's support and concern during the crisis.
• He said the Nepal government and its people sincerely appreciate the concern, assistance and solidarity shown by the Government of India

Aug 29, 2026 11:49 AM

80 bridges and around 40 km of roads damaged

• The devastating floods have added to the economic difficulties already facing Nepal’s new government.
• Nepal’s economy relies significantly on foreign assistance, remittances sent by Nepalis working overseas and trade with India and China.
• According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the floods have damaged 80 bridges and around 40 km of roads.
• Much of the damage has occurred near Nepal’s border with China, where roads and bridges play an important role in transporting goods.
• The damaged infrastructure is crucial for the movement of goods to and from China, raising concerns over further disruption to Nepal’s supply chains.
• China is Nepal’s second-largest trading partner, making the damage to border connectivity particularly significant for the country’s economy.
• With key transport links damaged, Nepal could face additional costs for reconstruction while also dealing with disruptions to cross-border trade.

Aug 29, 2026 11:48 AM

Nepal declares emergency areas in 5 districts

• The Nepal government has declared 15 local bodies across five flood- and landslide-affected districts as disaster-affected emergency areas.
• The decision has been taken to speed up relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the worst-affected areas.
• Authorities are expected to prioritise essential assistance and rehabilitation measures for families impacted by the floods and landslides.
• Government steps up response: The emergency designation is aimed at enabling a faster and more coordinated response as Nepal continues to deal with the aftermath of the disaster.

Aug 29, 2026 11:47 AM

UN raises concern over Nepal crisis

The United Nations has said that the situation in Nepal remains critical following the devastating floods. According to the UN, thousands of families affected by the floods are in urgent need of food and safe drinking water Several countries and international agencies have stepped up assistance to support rescue and relief operations in Nepal. The European Union has pledged relief assistance for people affected by the disaster. Canada and the United States have also announced relief supplies and financial assistance for Nepal. Aid agencies and local authorities are working to reach affected communities and provide essential supplies amid the continuing crisis.

Aug 29, 2026 11:27 AM

Teams on alert

Teams remain on alert as they search for missing people and assess the risk posed by unstable terrain, debris and rising water levels.

Aug 29, 2026 11:27 AM

Rescue teams face another potential danger

Rescue teams are facing another potential danger after a new lake formed near the disaster-hit region. Authorities fear that if the growing lake breaches its natural barrier, it could trigger another sudden flood downstream. 

Aug 29, 2026 11:26 AM

Indian pilgrims feared missing

More than 50 Indian pilgrims were reportedly heading towards the border crossing when the flood hit. Relatives and friends said they had been unable to establish contact with members of the group. 

Around 40 travellers associated with US-based tour company Himalayan Glacier were also expected to pass through the checkpoint. The company's chief executive said there had been no communication with members of the group after the disaster. 

Rakesh Nayak, a 45-year-old software engineer from Karnataka who had been living and working in Australia, was reportedly inside the immigration office when the flood struck. His family has not been able to contact him. 

Deepak and Madhu Ahuja, an Indian-origin couple living in Texas, were travelling as part of a Kailash pilgrimage group. Their daughters believe their parents may have been inside the Gyirong immigration centre when the flooding occurred.

Aug 29, 2026 11:26 AM

Why Gyirong is important

 The Gyirong border port is a key entry and exit point between Tibet and Nepal.
Pilgrims travelling to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar commonly use this route and must complete immigration formalities there. 
Around 80 members of Sadhguru's Isha Foundation were reportedly at the immigration centre when the flood struck. The group consisted of 46 women and 34 men from 19 countries. 
In an emotional video, Sadhguru said his group had reached the immigration centre only minutes before the disaster. He later said the same building he had visited days earlier had been completely washed away. 

Aug 29, 2026 11:25 AM

Key Developments

Chinese rescuers reach Gyirong border centre: Four days after the devastating flash flood, a 21-member Chinese rescue team finally reached the Gyirong immigration centre near the Nepal-Tibet border.

Border complex reduced to ruins: The team found the immigration centre and much of the surrounding infrastructure completely destroyed. The area was covered with thick layers of mud and debris.

Difficult journey for rescuers: With roads leading to Gyirong washed away, rescuers had to travel through forests, mountains and steep cliffs. They used ropes to navigate dangerous stretches and were accompanied by a search-and-rescue dog.

‘Nothing but ruins’: Rescue worker Zou Mingqi described the scene as devastating, saying there was no road to the site and the area was largely covered by forest and cliffs. At the border complex, he said, rescuers could see only ruins.

Massive flash flood struck on August 25: The disaster hit districts along the Nepal-Tibet border, sweeping away homes, vehicles, bridges and other infrastructure. More than 600 people have died, while around 2,000 remain missing.

Hundreds of Indians affected: Nearly 320 Indians remain unaccounted for in Nepal, while the Indian government has established contact with around 400 citizens in China, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

CCTV captured the disaster: Security camera footage from the Gyirong port showed a powerful wave of water and mud rushing towards the multi-storey immigration building as people desperately tried to escape.