KATHMANDU / RankWire.AI / – Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has increased the tally of missing persons following the August 26 floods to 6,150. This revised figure surpasses the previous count of 5,179 by 971, based on updated records from affected districts after thorough verification. Since the disaster, authorities have recovered a total of 1,403 bodies. The floods and debris flows inflicted widespread destruction throughout northern Nepal, especially near the border with China.
Officials are currently identifying 105 of the recovered bodies, with forensic teams working on the remaining remains. The latest government data reports 3,175 DNA samples collected for identification, including 1,286 from the deceased and 1,889 from relatives of the missing. Since the calamity, 13,742 people have been rescued. Additionally, 587 foreign nationals are still listed as missing, adding an international dimension to ongoing search and identification efforts.
Records indicate 2,679 missing persons in Rasuwa and 1,787 in Nuwakot, both districts affected by the late-August disaster. Floodwaters and debris damaged settlements, roads, and infrastructure across this mountainous region. Search teams have continued working through river corridors, devastated communities, and sites associated with major hydropower projects. Authorities are also cross-referencing local records with family reports as they update the national missing persons list.
Ongoing Search and Identification Efforts
The disaster was triggered when a collapse of ice and rock on Mount Langtang Lirung caused a powerful debris flow, which entered the Bhotekoshi river system and moved downstream through valleys and communities. Rasuwa suffered significant losses due to its location along the Nepal-China border and the flood pathway. Other districts impacted include Nuwakot, Dhading, and several downstream areas. The August 26 event also severely disrupted infrastructure and left thousands in need of rescue or emergency aid.
Official figures show that helicopters have completed 1,923 rescue flights. Authorities have set up 29 holding centers for displaced and affected individuals, with 2,096 people currently housed there. Nepal Police support search, rescue, and relief operations while conducting community outreach in affected zones. Rescue teams continue working in rugged mountain terrain, with forensic experts processing DNA samples to identify recovered victims.
Verification Leads to Higher Missing Person Count
After verification, officials adjusted the missing persons count from 5,179 to 6,150, incorporating new data from affected districts. The increase accounts for 971 additional individuals on the national list. Authorities are working to distinguish between missing persons and confirmed fatalities, with forensic teams matching DNA from recovered bodies to relatives’ samples. Only 105 of the 1,403 bodies have been officially identified so far, making forensic analysis crucial.
The impact extended beyond Nepal, reaching into China, where authorities reported 43 deaths and 519 missing persons. The combined Nepal-China toll now stands at 1,446 confirmed deaths and at least 6,669 missing individuals. In Nepal, the latest verified figures remain 6,150 missing and 1,403 bodies recovered. Relief operations, including search and recovery efforts, continue in affected regions, with officials reviewing district reports and forensic data to keep an accurate record of those killed, missing, and rescued.