Kathmandu | September 7, 2026 | INFRAINTEL Bureau
(The Statemans)
Nepal observed a national day of mourning on Monday, the thirteenth day after the Rasuwa flash-flood disaster, as search and recovery operations continued across affected river valleys.
The government said more than 1,340 people had died and nearly 5,000 remained missing, including 589 foreign nationals, after an ice-rock avalanche on August 26 triggered destructive flooding along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli systems. These were current official estimates in the source report and may change as identification and search work proceeds.
National flags were flown at half-mast at government offices and Nepali diplomatic missions. The floods damaged homes, roads, bridges, hydropower projects, government buildings and other critical infrastructure across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and adjoining areas.
At least 32,000 families were reported displaced and around 7,500 houses completely destroyed. Nepal’s Army, Police and Armed Police Force were working with international specialist teams, including personnel from India, to search hydropower tunnels and other difficult sites.
Immediate rescue must be followed by transparent casualty reconciliation, shelter and livelihood support, infrastructure assessment and reconstruction based on multi-hazard risk. The scale of loss also reinforces the need for cross-border warning arrangements for rapid mountain collapses and floods.