Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Nepal Police Warns Against Keeping Flood-Swept Valuables After Flash Floods
Nepal Police asked people to return valuables and important papers found after severe floods.
These items may include gold, silver and cash.
People should take them to the nearest police office.
Police said keeping, hiding, using or selling them could result in legal action.
The warning came after 29 people were arrested in Dhading.
They were accused of taking cash from a bank safe carried downstream by the flood.
The floods began after an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border.
The disaster swept away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges and caused many deaths and disappearances.
Nepal Police urged people to hand over flood-found gold, silver, cash and documents to the nearest police office.
Authorities warned that keeping, concealing, using, distributing, buying or selling such items could lead to legal action.
The appeal followed the arrest of 29 people accused of taking cash from a flood-swept bank safe in Dhading district.
The safe was found beside the Trishuli River at Belkhukhola in Galchhi Rural Municipality.
The August 26 flash floods, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche, killed more than 1,300 people and left around 5,000 missing.
- Who
- Nepal Police, residents who find flood-swept property, and 29 people arrested in Dhading district.
- What
- Police warned people not to keep, conceal, use, distribute, buy or sell valuables and documents found after the floods.
- When
- The floods occurred on August 26; the police warning was issued on Sunday, September 6, with a 2026 date shown in the accompanying report image.
- Where
- The warning applies to affected areas of Nepal; the bank safe was found beside the Trishuli River at Belkhukhola in Galchhi Rural Municipality, Dhading district.
- Why
- Police want found property and documents returned to their rightful owners and seek to limit theft, looting and fraud during disaster response.
- Police request
- Hand over flood-found valuables and important documents to the nearest police office.
- Items mentioned
- Gold, silver, cash, other valuables and important documents.
- Potential offence
- Using, concealing, keeping, distributing, buying or selling such items could result in legal action.
- Arrests
- Twenty-nine people were arrested over alleged cash-taking from a flood-swept bank safe.
- Safe location
- The safe was found beside the Trishuli River at Belkhukhola in Galchhi Rural Municipality.
- Flood trigger
- An ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border triggered the August 26 flash floods.
- Reported impact
- More than 1,300 people were killed and around 5,000 remained missing.
