Kathmandu (Rajeev Sharma): The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal has climbed to 1,252, with rescue teams continuing to recover bodies from areas hit by the disaster more than a week ago, according to Nepal Police.
Authorities said an estimated 4,875 people remain missing, as search operations entered their ninth day on Thursday. Rescue personnel, led by the Nepal Army, have continued combing through affected communities in an effort to locate survivors and recover those still unaccounted for.
Chitawan has reported the highest number of recovered bodies, with 355, followed by Nawalparasi East with 218 and Nawalparasi West with 208. Police said 18 of the bodies counted in Nawalparasi West were recovered in India before being handed over to authorities in Nepal.
Other heavily affected districts include Nuwakot, where 177 bodies have been recovered, while Rasuwa has reported 127 deaths. Gorkha has recorded 69 bodies, Dhading 60 and Tahanu 38, according to the latest figures released by Nepal Police.
The floods were triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, unleashing destructive floodwaters across parts of northern and central Nepal. Towns and villages were severely affected, with homes and infrastructure damaged and large numbers of people reported missing.
As rescue operations continue, authorities face the difficult task of reaching isolated and heavily damaged areas while searching for those who remain unaccounted for. The rising death toll has underscored the scale of one of Nepal’s most devastating recent natural disasters.
Officials are expected to continue releasing updated casualty figures as rescue teams reach more affected locations and recover additional victims.
