The death toll from the Nepal flash floods reached 616 on Saturday morning, while hundreds remain missing, local media reported, citing officials.
As of 6 a.m. Saturday, police had recovered 233 bodies in Chitwan, 158 in Nawalparasi East, 48 in Gorkha, 47 in Nawalparasi West, 45 in Dhading, 41 in Nuwakot, 31 in Tanahun and 13 in Rasuwa, according to Nepalese daily The Kathmandu Post.
Meanwhile, authorities continue search and rescue operations across the affected districts. Police are coordinating with residents and other agencies to locate missing people and help those stranded by the floods.
Rescue teams are moving people from high-risk areas to safer locations. They are also clearing roads blocked by flood debris and landslides to restore access and support relief operations.
The massive flash flood that struck Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Wednesday originated in China’s Tibetan region. The floodwaters surged through the transboundary Bhote Koshi River and caused widespread destruction across Nepal.
Rescue teams continue to recover bodies from riverbanks in several downstream districts along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi East and Nawalparasi West.
Officials expect the death toll to rise as search and rescue teams continue their operations.
Meanwhile, the Nepal government has agreed to accept assistance from international search and rescue teams. Earlier, the Balen Shah government had rejected foreign assistance, saying Nepalese rescuers could handle the operations and that it would not allow rescuers from other countries to enter the effort.
However, The Kathmandu Post reported that the administration reversed its decision within a day and agreed to seek limited international assistance and foreign expertise for rescue operations.
Indian nationals account for the highest number of missing people, according to the Nepal Tourism Board‘s latest records.
India sent its third assistance flight to Nepal on Friday, carrying an 11-member medical and tunnel rescue team.
The flight also carried 10 tonnes of humanitarian supplies, including portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets and water purification tablets.
On Thursday, India also delivered a second consignment of 37.5 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) supplies, medicines and food packets to Nepal to support relief and rescue operations following the deadly floods.