Nepal flash floods LIVE: Nepal warns of rising water levels in Bhotekoshi River as combined death toll surges to 750 - The Hindu

**Flash floods devastate eastern Nepal as Bhotekoshi River swells, death toll climbs to 750**

Heavy monsoon rains have turned the Bhotekoshi River into a raging torrent, prompting officials in Nepal to issue an urgent warning about rapidly rising water levels. The deluge, which began on August 25, has inundated dozens of villages across the eastern districts of Sunsari, Dhankuta, Ilam and Sindhupalchok, turning roads into rivers of mud and debris. According to a joint statement from the Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Authority, the combined death toll from the floods now stands at **750**, the highest casualty figure recorded in the country’s recent monsoon disasters. The Hindu’s live coverage highlighted that the worst-hit district, Sindhupalchok, recorded more than 300 fatalities, while neighboring districts reported hundreds of missing persons.

Rescue teams from the Nepalese army, Nepal Police, and the Armed Police Force have been working around the clock to reach isolated communities cut off by landslides and collapsed bridges. In a dramatic operation reported by Al Jazeera, rescuers resorted to drilling into collapsed tunnel shafts to free workers trapped beneath piles of stone and mud. NDTV’s ground report showed volunteers and local residents pulling bodies from the water and salvaging whatever belongings they could, while relief camps have sprung up in schools and community centres to house the displaced. The government has mobilised over 10,000 personnel, deployed helicopters, and dispatched emergency relief supplies, but logistical challenges remain as many roads remain impassable.

Prime Minister Pushpa Koirala convened an emergency meeting with provincial leaders, urging the international community to step in with financial and humanitarian aid. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has appealed for **$45 million** to cover immediate needs such as clean water, shelter, and medical care for the estimated **120,000** people affected. While the waters are expected to recede in the coming days, officials warned that the risk of further landslides persists, and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure could take months. The nation now faces the dual challenge of mourning the massive loss of life while rebuilding livelihoods in the flood‑stricken heartland.