Nepal flash floods aftermath LIVE: Death toll rises to 1,127; more than 4,800 people missing, says Nepal Police - The Hindu

**Nepal flash floods aftermath LIVE: Death toll rises to 1,127; more than 4,800 people missing, says Nepal Police** *The Hindu*

A massive flash‑flood event that struck Nepal’s central and western regions in late August has left the country reeling. According to the Nepal Police, the death toll has climbed to **1,127**, while **over 4,800** individuals remain unaccounted for. The disaster was triggered by an unprecedented bout of monsoon rain that caused several rivers, including the Gandaki and Seti, to swell beyond their banks, sweeping away villages, roads and infrastructure across the districts of Kaski, Baglung, Myagdi and Gorkha. The scale of the calamity has prompted a nationwide emergency response, with the government declaring a state of disaster in the hardest‑hit provinces.

Rescue teams have been working around the clock to locate survivors and retrieve bodies, employing a mix of aerial helicopters, ground search parties and specialized equipment. In a dramatic turn, authorities carried out a **controlled explosion inside a hydropower tunnel** to clear debris and restore water flow, a maneuver coordinated by the Nepal Electricity Authority and the army. The blast, while risky, was deemed necessary to prevent further flooding downstream and to facilitate access for rescuers searching for **hundreds of missing workers** who were inside the tunnel when the flood struck. International partners, including the United Nations and neighboring India, have sent relief supplies and technical assistance to augment Nepal’s own efforts.

The human toll extends beyond the numbers. Survivors like the owners of a local greenhouse, who described their experience as “a second birth,” recounted how they clung to floating debris for hours before being rescued, underscoring the sheer randomness of survival. The government has pledged **Rs 10 billion** in immediate relief, promised temporary shelters for displaced families, and announced an accelerated review of the country’s flood‑early warning systems. As the death count rises and missing persons remain unlocated, the focus now shifts to long‑term reconstruction and bolstering Nepal’s resilience against future climate‑driven disasters.