Press Briefing Note by Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs on Bhote Koshi Flood

Press Briefing by Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs on Bhote Koshi Flood

(Saturday, 2:00 PM, 29 August 2026)

1. Following the devastating flash floods in Bhote Koshi River on 26 August 2026, whose case is not yet determined fully, the Government of Nepal has mobilized all available resources and efforts at its disposal for search, rescue, relief and recovery operations, with particular attention to people who remain missing, including both Nepali and foreign nationals. This is currently our national priority.
   
2. Our immediate priority remains clear: to save lives, locate missing persons, rescue them, provide urgent relief to survivors, and ensure that affected Nepali as well as foreign receive appropriate assistance and support.
   
3. So far, 626 bodies have been recovered from the areas and about 2400 people are still unaccounted for. Over 4450 people have been rescued from the regions, including over 187 foreign nationals. As operations continue, updated and further verified figures will be available on the Ministry website.
   
4. As operations continue, the figures concerning casualties, missing persons and damage may change as search and verification operations continue. So, the Government of Nepal appeals to the public and national and the international media to rely on officially verified information and to avoid publishing/broadcasting unconfirmed reports.
   
5. The search and rescue teams including security personnel, provincial and local governments, medical and emergency responders are continuously working together in the affected areas of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan Districts to locate, search, rescue and assist them who have been affected and need urgent help. The Government of Nepal is mobilizing all resources at its disposal.
   
6. Authorities are coordinating with families, local administrations, hospitals, and all other concerned to identify missing nationals and to ensure that information is verified before it is released publicly.
   
7. Relief operations are focused on providing immediate and all necessary assistance, including emergency medical care, food, safe drinking water, temporary shelter and other essential supplies.
   
8. The Government of Nepal is in close communication and coordination with our immediate neighbours and international community. As many foreign nationals are also missing, a dedicated Emergency Control Room has been established at the Ministry. 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.
   
9. The river systems and downstream flood risks are being continuously monitored. Our systems are on high alert for any additional flood risks and all required coordination is in place.
   
10. Our security agencies and other response teams are currently handling the situation effectively. As operations continue, we have requested specific and specialized assistance from our friendly neighbours where such support can further strengthen our search-and-rescue efforts in areas such as opening the tunnels where people have trapped, technologies that help us locate people alive in the affected areas, quick forensic and DNA analysis and mortuaries to keep the bodies. An eleven member specialised technical reconnaissance team for tunnel rescue from India has been mobilized and a tunnel rescue team from China is expected to arrive very soon.
    
11. 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. From India, we have already received more than 57 tons of relief materials. Essential items are also being received from China, Japan, Australia and other friends today. As relief operations continue, further assessments are being made and we will reach out to our neighbours and international partners for additional assistance and support as needed.
    
12. Given the extensive damage to critical infrastructure, houses, road networks, bridges and hydropower facilities etc., a detailed assessment of the needs is currently underway, and a report will be ready soon. The scale of the devastation is quite significant, and we anticipate requiring international assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction. As the assessment progresses, we will communicate specific requirements later.
    
13. We have seen some false reports circulating in national and foreign media that Nepal has rejected international assistance and support. Again, I repeat the scale of devastation is extremely huge, and support and assistance are required, not just in the phase of rescue and relief, but more so in the phase of reconstruction.
    
14. The Government of Nepal already has Prime Minister Relief Fund for such catastrophic calamities. Nepali as well as foreign nationals at home and abroad can contribute to this fund through QR Code. Contributions for these efforts can be made through the link: https://pmdrf.nchl.com.np/ as well.
    
15. Despite massive destruction and difficulties created by the Bhote Koshi River floods in areas of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan, the other part of Nepal is normal as earlier and open for foreigners/travellers/tourists. We welcome foreign nationals willing to visit Nepal.

We express our sincere gratitude to our neighbours and friendly countries and partners for extending support and assistance at this difficult hour, and for expressing condolences and solidarity.

We thank all our media friends for their support and cooperation. The Ministry will continue to update you through official website, social media handles and further media briefings regularly.

Thank you.