Nepal flash floods: Death toll rises to 1344, say Nepal police

KATHMANDU: As rescue and relief operations continue in Nepal in the wake of the devastating flash floods of August 26, the Nepal Police said on Saturday that the death toll has risen to 1,344. The Nepal Police shared the latest death toll in a post on X.

रसुवा भोटेकोशी बाढी सम्बन्धी खोज तथा उद्धार अपडेट २०८३।०५।२० गते ०५:०० बजेसम्म pic.twitter.com/C9XgRjnPmX

— Nepal Police (@NepalPoliceHQ) September 5, 2026

The aftermath of the devastating floods has affected several aspects of life in Nepal, with authorities also grappling with concerns over the contamination of drinking water sources and the possible spread of communicable diseases in flood-hit areas.

The Kathmandu Post reported on Friday that five of the 15 drinking water sources in flood-hit Bidur were found to be contaminated with E. coli. Officials are now considering cholera vaccination for around 1,00,000 vulnerable people and measles vaccination for more than 75,000 children. Bidur is among the areas worst affected by the Bhote Koshi floods.

Beyond the casualties, the floods swept away entire settlements and damaged or destroyed vital infrastructure, including roads, bridges and drinking water systems.

The Nepalese outlet reported that public health experts have warned that the risk of communicable, non-communicable and vector-borne diseases could increase in the aftermath of the disaster. They have advised authorities to step up preventive and relief measures, with particular attention to young children, elderly people and those living with non-communicable diseases.

As relief and rehabilitation efforts continue, the Government of Nepal has announced immediate cash support for affected areas. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) stated that NPR 10 million each has been allocated to Rasuwa and Nuwakot, NPR 5 million to Dhading, and NPR 135 million has been distributed among 15 affected local governments.

Earlier, a group of US lawmakers on Friday (local time) urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to step up American relief and search-and-rescue efforts in flood-hit Nepal, including by deploying a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), providing additional humanitarian assistance and planning significant reconstruction support as the death toll from the disaster continues to mount.

Meanwhile, Indian specialised tunnel rescue and medical teams continue their complex search operations in flood-hit Nepal along with the Nepalese Army.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava on Thursday highlighted India’s ongoing humanitarian aid, specialised tunnel rescue contingents, and a 19-member forensic team to aid the relief efforts in the flood-ravaged Nepal and assured that India would respond positively to its neighbour’s request for reconstruction aid.

Highlighting the speed of India’s response following the August 26 flash floods, Ambassador Srivastava noted that India has mobilised five relief flights packed with emergency supplies, and direct outreach with top Nepalese leadership began immediately.

The ongoing rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations are being carried out as authorities continue to assess the scale of destruction caused by the floods and address emerging humanitarian and public health concerns. (ANI)