The death toll from the Bhotekoshi flood has reached 1,222, with 4,875 people still missing, according to Nepal Police. Among the casualties, 600 are foreign nationals, and 77 are minors.
Security forces continue their search and rescue mission. In the worst-affected areas, the chances of finding survivors are slim; however, those who escaped the initial floodwaters and reached nearby higher ground have been safely evacuated. Rescued survivors are currently being housed in holding centers in Nuwakot district, where the supply of relief materials remains satisfactory. Meanwhile, security forces are focusing on recovering bodies in Rasuwa district.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who was initially reluctant to speak in Parliament, appeared before the House to brief lawmakers on the situation. Since the disaster struck, PM Shah has been posting evening updates on Facebook detailing relief and rescue operations. Addressing Parliament, he assured the public that all government agencies have been fully mobilized.
Opposition leaders have strongly criticized the government's response, arguing that authorities failed to act promptly—particularly regarding the timely deployment of international experts to rescue those trapped in tunnels. Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chairman of the Nepal Communist Party, stated that while official agencies were deployed, the government failed to mobilize local communities in the affected areas. He further criticized the administration for not consulting political parties during the crisis.
The United States has delivered over 40 tons of emergency relief supplies. According to the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu, the shipment includes water filters, tarps, blankets, hygiene kits, and solar lights—enough to support 2,600 families—and is being distributed through local ground organizations in close coordination with the Government of Nepal. India and China are also providing humanitarian assistance.
China announced it is providing weather monitoring, forecasting, early warning, and impact services following the severe mudslide along the Nepal-China border. Wang Yawei, spokesperson for the China Meteorological Administration, stated during a press conference that the agency conducted emergency video consultations with Nepal's meteorological department and continues to provide active meteorological support for relief operations.
Eight days after the disaster, some grieving families have begun performing final rites using effigies made of Kush grass, in accordance with Hindu tradition. Facing severe logistical challenges and a lack of cold storage facilities, the government has begun mass burials, assuring families that DNA samples and other identification markers are being safely preserved.
In response, the House of Representatives passed a special resolution regarding the Rasuwa flood, urging the government to prioritize search, rescue, relief, and rehabilitation; provide free medical treatment for the injured; and ensure the scientific management of recovered bodies.
The flood has severely damaged Nepal's tourism industry. Furthermore, extensive damage to the Prithvi Highway and secondary road networks has triggered a spike in the prices of daily essentials. Kathmandu is already facing a shortage of cooking gas, which is expected to worsen as roadblocks persist.
Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Editor
