The death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal rose to over 1,120 on Wednesday, with thousands of people still unaccounted for a week after the disaster, as rescuers continued searching river corridors and hydropower project tunnels for those swept away by the floods.
According to Nepal police data, 348 bodies were recovered in Chitwan, 217 in Nawalparasi East, 190 in Nawalparasi West and 155 in Nuwakot. Another 66 bodies were recovered in Gorkha, 59 in Dhading, 45 in Rasuwa and 38 in Tanahu.
In its latest update issued on Wednesday morning, Nepal's national disaster risk reduction and management authority (NDRRMA) put the number of bodies recovered at 1,114 by 9am, including body parts recovered from different locations. The authority said 95 bodies had been identified and handed over to relatives.
The discrepancy between the NDRRMA and Nepal Police figures reflects different reporting cut-off times and data collection methods, with the police figures based on information available until 8am Wednesday.
Thousands Remain Unaccounted for
The scale of the disaster remains unclear as thousands of people are still missing. NDRRMA said 3,916 people remained out of contact, including government employees, security personnel, elected representatives, foreign nationals, Nepalis accompanying foreign tourists, local residents and hydropower project workers.
Nepal police, however, put the number of people still unaccounted for at 4,858, including 583 foreign nationals.
The whereabouts of hundreds of people associated with hydropower projects along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors remain particularly uncertain.
According to the Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal (IPPAN), the status of 983 people associated with 11 hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot remains unknown.
Nepali Army personnel, along with Indian and Chinese tunnel rescue teams, are attempting to enter tunnels at several hydropower projects in search of those reported missing.
Hundreds Missing at Upper Trishuli-1 Project
The scale of the crisis is particularly stark at the 216MW Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project. IPPAN said 1,433 people were working on the project when the floods struck. Of these, 876 have either been rescued or have made contact, leaving hundreds whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Those still unaccounted for include 15 employees of the project company, 78 employees of EPC contractor Doosan, 94 employees of Andritz Hydro, seven employees of the consultant joint venture of Lahmeyer International GmbH and Jade Consult Pvt Ltd, and 385 workers employed by civil subcontractor PowerChina.
Rescue operations are also continuing at the Upper Trishuli 3A, Chilime, Langtang Khola and Trishuli 3B hydropower projects.
At the 111MW Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, 91 people were still reported missing as of Tuesday.
A Nepali Army-led team conducted an on-site inspection on Monday but returned after reporting that it had found no one inside the powerhouse tunnel.
India Sends Fifth Rescue Aircraft
India has stepped up its assistance to Nepal, with external affairs minister S Jaishankar announcing on Wednesday that the fifth Indian aircraft carrying an 11-member rescue team and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines had departed for Nepal.
"The fifth Indian aircraft has departed for Nepal. It is carrying an 11-member rescue team with specialised equipment, and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines," Mr Jaishankar said in a
post on X.
India has so far sent more than 68 tonnes of emergency relief material and specialised rescue teams to support Nepal's response.
The assistance includes blankets, sleeping bags, heavy-duty tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, hygiene kits, medicines, food packets, solar lamps, water purification tablets and portable generators.
At Nepal's request, India and China have also sent technical teams to assist in search operations inside hydropower tunnels, where conventional rescue operations have proved difficult.
A 19-member Indian forensic team has meanwhile begun analysing DNA samples in coordination with Nepali forensic experts to help identify those killed in the disaster.
Fresh Flood Threat as Rivers Cross Alert Levels
Even as rescue and recovery operations continue, authorities have warned of another potential threat from rising river levels.
Nepal's department of hydrology and meteorology said on Wednesday that water levels in three major rivers had crossed their alert levels following rainfall in parts of the country.
As of 6am, the Sun Koshi River in Sindhuli, Budhi Gandaki River in Gorkha and Mahakali River in Dadeldhura were above alert levels.
The department's flood forecasting division had also reported on Tuesday that the Marsyangdi River in Lamjung had crossed the danger mark at the Bhukundebesi water-level monitoring centre at 11.15pm.
Authorities urged people in central, western and eastern parts of Nepal to remain alert and monitor official warnings as rainfall continues.
Disaster Exposes Vulnerability of Himalayan Communities
The latest disaster has highlighted the growing vulnerability of communities living in Nepal's steep Himalayan terrain, where the combination of rugged geography, unstable slopes and rapidly changing river conditions can turn heavy rainfall and glacial events into destructive flash floods.
The Himalayan region is already highly exposed to earthquakes and other natural hazards. More frequent and intense flash-flood events linked to warming temperatures and accelerated melting of high-altitude glaciers are raising concerns about the ability of communities and infrastructure to withstand repeated disasters.
For residents who have had little time to recover from one disaster before another strikes, the latest floods have raised fresh questions over the resilience of settlements, roads, hydropower projects and other infrastructure across the mountain region.
With more bodies continuing to be recovered and thousands still unaccounted for, the final human toll of the disaster is expected to remain uncertain until rescue teams can reach isolated areas and hydropower tunnels and authorities complete the identification of recovered remains.
