Press Briefing by the Spokesperson on Bhote Koshi Flood

Press Briefing by the Spokesperson on Bhote Koshi Flood

(Saturday, 2:00 PM, 31 August 2026)

We welcome you all to our third daily series of press briefing on the Bhote Koshi Floods.

1. As you all know, our national priority remains clear: to save lives, locate missing persons, rescue them, provide urgent relief, and ensure that all affected people (both Nepali and foreigners) receive appropriate assistance and support.

For this, the Government of Nepal has mobilized all available resources and efforts at its disposal for search, rescue, and relief and recovery operations. Effective coordination with our immediate neighbours and the international community is currently underway to assess, request, receive and mobilize all necessary items and resources for the ongoing search, rescue and relief efforts.

So far, 903 bodies have been recovered from the areas and about 4200 people are still unaccounted for. Over 10,000 people have been rescued from the regions, including over 323 foreign nationals. As per the available data, about 590 foreign nationals are still missing, from 39 countries.

As operations continue, updated and further verified figures will be available on our websites as reported by our agencies, particularly NDRRMA and Nepal Tourism Board.

I would like to reiterate the appeal of the Government to the public as well as national and international media to rely on officially verified information and to avoid publishing/broadcasting unconfirmed reports. We are committed to providing and updating you regularly.

1. In this hour of difficulty, the Government continues its close communication and coordination with our immediate neighbours and international community. Many foreign nationals are still missing. So, a dedicated Emergency Control Room at the Ministry is coordinating with relevant agencies as well as with the families of missing people.

Our diplomatic missions are also constantly sharing and updating verified information, and facilitating communication with families and extend any necessary assistance, identification and repatriation procedures.

1. The situation is being effectively handled by unified teams of our security and other agencies. Our agencies are working with specialized technical teams for tunnel rescue from India (11 people), China (9 people) in coordination with Nepali authorities in Mailung (Chilime) and Syafrubesi, and in Upper Trisuli 3A respectively. A team from Republic of Korea is also mobilized.

Similarly, we have also received airtight bags for the management of the dead bodies, and more are also being delivered. A team of 18 forensics experts from India specializing in DNA analysis is here since 29 August. Our coordination in this regard continues.

A coordination to mobilise Disaster Victim Identification Team from Singapore is underway.

We have already received generous rescue support from India, China, Japan, the United States, United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Korea, and other countries and partners. Items in this regard include bridge units, freezers, generator sets, solar lamps, DNA testing kits, bridge units, emergency relief equipment as well as tents, blankets, sleeping bags, food packets, medicines etc.

We have further requested essential non-food items and services like freezers, DNA testing Kits and LiDAR from (USA) relief Specific items like Disaster Victim Identification (DVI, Singapore) service, belly bridges (some already received) and high-capacity drones (from China and Singapore). Specific such items are also expected from Japan and the Republic of Korea very soon.

1. Relief and humanitarian assistance are being provided in the affected areas. We are deeply grateful to our friends and partners for their solidarity, goodwill and generous offers of support at this difficult time. We have already received relief materials from India China and UAE and other countries. More supplies are coming from UAE, Myanmar, USA, Qatar, UK, Australia, Republic of Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other friendly countries and international organizatons and partners like UN, WHO, WFP and UNICEF.

We have also received generous pledges of monetary assistance from our friends and partners from across the world. We deeply value support and assistance in this difficult time, and we are truly grateful.

1. As you know, the damage caused by the floods is extensive. A preliminary assessment of the needs is currently underway and a detailed Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) will be carried out for the actual figures for rehabilitation and reconstruction of those ritical infrastructure like houses, road networks, bridges and hydropower facilities have been damaged etc.,
2. We anticipate requiring international assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction. As the assessment progresses, we will communicate specific requirements later.
3. Effective coordination is undergoing at different levels both within the country and with our neighbours and international community. The Rt. Hon Prime Minister himself is deeply engaged in monitoring and supervising this operation.

As you know, Rt. Hon. Prime Minister had telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister on 26 August 2026 and with the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 28 August 2026.

1. Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Shisir Khanal has also talked to his counterparts and dignitaries of India, China, United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa, Venezuela, USA, Singapore, Malaysia, among others.

Coordination at various other levels and by our missions is also going on.

1. Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Mr. Shisir Khanal visited some flood impacted areas to observe the ongoing ground reality of search, relief and rescue operation yesterday. He shared that the ground reality is much more complex and devastating than what we have seen and understood through different mediums.

I would like to highlight the fact that event the word "flood" can hardly capture the actual experience and reality during this difficult time.

1. The Government of Nepal has received hundreds of Condolences Message and willingness of support to Nepal from Heads of States, Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers as well as Heads of International Organizations and Specialised agencies, among others.

We express our sincere gratitude to all of them for this gesture of solidarity and support.

1. The Ministry and our diplomatic missions in China are in constant coordination to collect, assess and share the updated information relating to situation of Nepali nationals in China side. Chinese side has facilitated the return of Nepali nationals from Tibet through Hilsa and other Border point.
2. There has been a regular real-time exchange of information between Nepal and the People's Republic of China concerning hydrological and meteorological data, as well as information related to flood risks, avalanches, glacial lakes, water-induced disasters, among others.
3. The mortal remains of the dead (especially those not recognizable and decomposed due to longer time exposure to water) have been temporarily buried. Medical teams have taken DNA samples from every victim prior to the burial so that families can match records later, and will be allowed to exhume for necessary rituals. Standard protocols and guidelines in place for managing bodies in such difficult situation have been duly followed.
4. We want to reiterate the fact that Nepal indeed needs assistance and support for rescue and relief operations, in areas like tunnel rescue, freezers, LiDAR, DNA and forensic expertise etc.
5. Later during the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, we will require a significant level of support, which will be determined by PDNA.
6. As you know, the Government of Nepal has Prime Minister Relief Fund for collection of funds from Nepali as well as foreign nationals at home and abroad, who can contribute to this fund through QR Code. We request donors to verify the authenticity of the QR/link before making the payment.
7. We are closely coordinating with Ministry of Home Affairs, NDRRMA and the Nepali Army for rescue related specialization support, relief materials and missing foreign nationals.

Our ECR is currently working to support family members whose loved ones are missing after the floods.

A joint secretary has been assigned to coordinate with NDRRMA.

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We reiterate our sincere gratitude to our neighbours, friendly countries and partners for standing with Nepal at this difficult hour, and for extending their support and assistance, as well as for their heartfelt condolences and solidarity.

We also thank all our media friends for your continued support, cooperation and responsible reporting during this difficult time.

The Ministry will continue to update you through our official website, social media channels and further media briefings. The next press briefing will be at 2 pm tomorrow, Tuesday, 1 September 2026.

Thank you.

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Singhadurbar, Kathmandu