Nepal flash floods LIVE updates: Heavy rain forecast in flood-affected areas threaten to disrupt rescue ops.; death toll crosses 620 - The Hindu

**Nepal flash floods — Live updates** The monsoon‑season deluge that swept across western Nepal’s Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces in late August has pushed the death toll beyond 620, according to The Hindu’s latest count. Torrential rains triggered landslides and swollen rivers that inundated villages, turning roads and fields into waterways. The National Disaster Risk Reduction Authority (NDRRA) says more than 200,000 people have been displaced, with relief camps set up in temporary shelters across the hard‑hit districts of Doti, Bajura and Achham. Forecast models released by the Department of Hydrology predict another bout of heavy rain over the next 48 hours, raising concerns that rescue teams may be hampered by fresh flooding and rising water levels.

The Nepalese foreign minister, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, warned on Thursday that the already saturated border region is “turning into swampland,” heightening the risk of new flash‑flood events that could further endanger both residents and aid workers. In response, India’s states of Maharashtra, Puducherry and Gujarat have dispatched emergency teams, medical supplies and helicopters to assist Nepalese authorities. The BBC reports that tourists who were trekking in the area are now stranded, while families in Gujarat anxiously await news of loved ones caught in the disaster. The Indian government has also pledged financial assistance and has opened a special helpline for Nepali citizens seeking help across the border.

Individual stories underscore the human toll of the catastrophe. A family from Assam is searching for a missing relative who was traveling through the flood‑hit region, and has appealed to both Nepali and Indian officials for coordinated support. Meanwhile, the Print highlighted the anguish of Gujarati families who have been unable to contact relatives trapped in makeshift camps. Relief agencies, including the International Red Cross, are urging donors to fund emergency shelters, clean‑water supplies and medical kits as the region battles not only the immediate impacts of the floods but also the looming threat of a second wave of heavy rain.