Nepal Floods: Death Toll Rises to 165, Nearly 500 Missing Near Tibet Border

Nepal Floods: Death Toll Rises to 165, Nearly 500 Missing Near Tibet Border

Kathmandu, August 27, 2026 [VoM News]: At least 165 people have been killed and nearly 500 remain missing after a massive flash flood and mudslide swept through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors along the Nepal-Tibet border, destroying settlements, hydropower facilities, roads and other infrastructure.

VoM News has learnt that Nepal Police put the death toll at 157, while Chinese authorities reported three deaths in Tibet’s Gyirong county.

As per details available with VoM News, Nepal Police said 579 people, including 466 foreigners from 28 countries and 113 Nepalis, remained untraced. The missing include at least 133 Indians and 37 non-resident Indians.

At least 33 bodies were recovered about 150 kilometres downstream in Chitwan, highlighting the scale and force of the floodwaters.

Among the missing foreign nationals were 54 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons, 24 Canadians, 19 Malaysians and eight South Koreans.

At Least 8 Dead, 108 Indians Missing After Flash Floods Hit Nepal Near Tibet Border

Nearly 400 Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims, including Indians, were reportedly preparing to cross the Nepal-Tibet border or travelling through the affected region when the disaster struck.

Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal told Parliament that 29 police personnel and 44 soldiers were among those missing after floodwaters swept away their barracks in Rasuwa. Customs officials, hydropower workers and other personnel stationed along the border corridor were also reported missing.

Dozens of workers at the 20-megawatt Langtang Khola Hydropower Project also remained unaccounted for. Security posts, customs facilities, banks and other establishments along the river corridor were damaged or swept away.

Rescue operations have been hampered by bad weather, damaged roads, mud and high river levels. The Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have deployed helicopters, drones, boats and ground teams to search for survivors and people still missing.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah appealed for patience and unity as rescue and relief operations continued.

Across the border, floods and mudslides disrupted roads, communications and power supplies around Gyirong port, a key Nepal-Tibet crossing used by Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims. Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out efforts” to search for and rescue missing people.

Preliminary government estimates showed that at least 19 bridges and about 40 kilometres of roads had been damaged or washed away. Thirteen hydropower projects were also affected, while around 200 trucks were lost.

The Nepal government has declared the worst-affected areas disaster-hit zones for three months and ordered free medical treatment for people injured in the disaster.