Nepal flood death toll rises to 1,127, nearly 4,900 still missing

The death toll from catastrophic flooding, landslides and mudslides triggered by the Bhote Koshi River in Nepal has risen to 1,127, while 4,858 people remain missing, authorities said.

The disaster, believed to have been triggered by massive ice and rock collapses in the high Himalayan region, has devastated several districts, destroying homes, roads, border trade facilities and hydropower infrastructure.

Officials fear the death toll could rise further as search and rescue teams reach remote areas.

Citing Nepal Police, The Kathmandu Post reported that bodies had been recovered from several affected districts as well as neighbouring India by early Wednesday (September 2). The highest numbers were reported from Chitwan, where 348 bodies were recovered, followed by Nawalparasi East with 217, Nawalparasi West with 190 and Nuwakot with 155.

Other recoveries included 66 bodies in Gorkha, 59 in Dhading, 45 in Rasuwa, 38 in Tanahun, 34 in Chitwan and nine in India, according to police figures.

Authorities said legal identification and post-mortem procedures had been completed for 1,113 bodies, while 95 have so far been handed over to relatives.

Nepal Police has also published information on 911 unidentified bodies on its website to help families locate missing relatives.

Around 7,912 police personnel have been deployed across the disaster-hit areas for search and rescue operations, relief distribution and the recovery and management of bodies.

Police said 6,541 people have so far been rescued from affected areas.

Search operations remain underway for the 4,858 people reported missing. Rescue teams are also evacuating families from high-risk areas and clearing roads blocked by debris, while coordinating relief and recovery efforts with local authorities and residents.

The disaster has caused widespread destruction along the Bhote Koshi River, with settlements, transport links, border trade points and hydropower facilities among the hardest-hit infrastructure.

With search teams continuing to comb through debris and reach previously inaccessible areas, authorities warned that more bodies could be recovered and the overall casualty figure may increase further before the operation is completed.