The death toll from Nepal’s devastating August 26 flash floods has reached 1,451, with about 6,000 people still missing, according to figures released by Nepal Police on September 20, 2026. Search and recovery operations continue across some of the country’s hardest-hit areas.
The disaster began after an avalanche and glacial-collapse-related event near the Nepal-Tibet border sent a massive surge of water and debris into the Bhote Koshi River system. Floodwaters swept through communities, damaging homes, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure across northern and central Nepal.
Chitwan has recorded 367 recovered bodies, followed by Rasuwa with 236, Nawalparasi East with 232, Nawalparasi West with 222 and Nuwakot with 203. Other affected districts include Gorkha, Dhading and Tanahu. Authorities have reported that more than 13,700 people have been rescued.
Identifying the dead remains a major challenge. Many recovered bodies have been severely damaged or were found after being swept downstream. Authorities have collected DNA samples from unidentified victims and relatives as they work to establish identities and reunite families with their loved ones.
The disaster has also affected areas across the border in Tibet, where reports indicate 43 deaths and more than 500 people remain missing.
Officials continue to update the casualty figures as search teams recover bodies and investigate reports of missing people. The scale of the disaster means the numbers remain subject to change.