Nepal flash floods LIVE: Nepal flood death toll rises to 734, disaster authority says - The Hindu

**Nepal Flash Floods Claim 734 Lives, Authorities Say**

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported that the death toll from the monsoon‑season flash floods that ravaged Nepal’s hilly terrain has risen to **734**. The floods, triggered by unprecedented rainfall in the central and western districts, inundated villages, swept away roads, and destroyed homes across the Kaski, Lamjung, and Gorkha regions. Satellite imagery and on‑the‑ground assessments show that more than 5,000 families have been displaced, while roughly 1.2 million people are now in need of emergency assistance, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

Rescue teams, including the Nepalese Army, police, and volunteers, have been working around the clock to locate survivors and retrieve bodies. In a related operation, crews are searching for missing workers inside the **Karnali** and **West Seti** hydropower tunnel projects, where sudden surges of water have trapped laborers underground. International aid has begun to flow, with neighboring India dispatching medical teams and China offering emergency supplies, although access to some remote valleys remains hampered by landslides and washed‑out bridges. The government has declared a state of emergency in the hardest‑hit districts, mobilising funds for temporary shelters, clean water, and disease‑prevention measures.

The disaster has intensified calls for a coordinated global response to climate change, with Nepal’s Prime Minister urging the international community to honor the **Paris Agreement** commitments and to fund resilient infrastructure projects. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have linked the intensity of this season’s monsoon to rising temperatures in the Himalayas, which accelerate glacial melt and increase the likelihood of debris avalanches and flash floods. As Nepal rebuilds, officials say the focus will be on constructing flood‑resistant housing, improving early‑warning systems, and bolstering the capacity of hydropower sites to withstand extreme weather events.