Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Nepal Flood Leaves 384 Travellers Missing, Death Toll Disputed
A very large flash flood swept through part of Nepal near the Bhote Koshi River.
The Tourism Board said 384 travellers could not yet be located.
This included 291 foreigners and 93 Nepali citizens.
At least 105 of the reported missing foreigners were Indian nationals.
Rescue teams used helicopters and security forces to search for people and move injured survivors.
Many roads, bridges, villages, buildings and power facilities were damaged.
Bad weather and difficult mountain terrain made rescue work harder.
News reports gave very different death counts, so the final number was still being checked.
Nepal’s Tourism Board reported 384 travellers missing after a flash flood struck the Bhote Koshi River area in Rasuwa.
The preliminary list includes 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals, including 105 Indian nationals and 37 NRIs.
Authorities are cross-checking the list with travel agencies, guides, local officials and security agencies.
Nepal deployed security forces and up to 14 helicopters, while reports said between 25 and 114 people had been rescued.
Reported deaths varied widely—from four, seven, eight and 22 to 95—as officials continued verifying casualties and damage.
- Who
- Travellers, residents, security personnel and infrastructure workers in Nepal were affected; 105 reported missing foreign nationals were Indian.
- What
- A flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River area left 384 travellers reported missing, caused deaths and damaged communities and infrastructure.
- When
- The flood struck on Wednesday morning, with reports placing the river surge at about 8:30–9 a.m. local time.
- Where
- The main affected area was Rasuwa, including the Bhote Koshi River near the Nepal-China border; downstream areas in India were also placed on alert.
- Why
- The flood caused a sudden surge and widespread destruction; an ICIMOD specialist attributed it to an ice-rock avalanche that temporarily blocked a tributary, while the cause remained under assessment by authorities.
Avalanche-Linked Surge
Cause Still Under Assessment
What triggered the flood?
Avalanche-Linked Surge
An International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development specialist said an ice-rock avalanche from a glacier blocked the Lhende Khola tributary before releasing a sudden surge downstream.
Cause Still Under Assessment
Nepal’s Embassy said the cause remained under assessment, while other reports described the event as a flash flood or sudden river surge without definitively confirming its cause.
Casualty assessment
Avalanche-Linked Surge
Some reports cited four, seven or eight confirmed deaths, reflecting early official or local updates.
Cause Still Under Assessment
Other reports cited 22 and later 95 deaths, indicating that casualty totals were disputed or changing as more bodies and information were reported.
- Travellers reported missing
- 384: 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals
- Indian nationals reported missing
- 105, including 37 non-resident Indians in one Tourism Board breakdown
- Countries represented
- Reported foreign nationals included people from India, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, South Africa and the Netherlands
- Rescue figures reported
- Sources cited at least 25 rescued, 88 rescued by the Nepali Army, and 114 evacuated by helicopter
- Reported deaths
- Different reports cited four, seven, eight, 22 and 95 deaths; casualty figures were still being verified
- Search operation
- Nepal mobilised Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepali Army, with reports citing up to 14 helicopters
- Damage and disruption
- Villages, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities, power infrastructure, markets and security posts were damaged
Sources
Nepal flash floods: Over 100 Indians among 384 tourists missing in affected areas
105 Indians missing in devastating flash floods in Nepal
After Nepal flash floods, tourism board says 105 Indian travellers missing | 10 Updates
Devastating flash floods in Nepal: Death toll rises to 95, over 100 Indians among missing; rescue operations ongoing
Nepal flash flood: 105 Indians among 384 missing in Bhote Koshi river area; 8 dead
