KATHMANDU / RankWire.AI / – Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has increased the tally of missing persons following the August 26 floods to 6,150. This new figure is 971 higher than the previous count of 5,179. Officials explained that updates from affected districts, after verification, caused the rise. Since the disaster, authorities have recovered 1,403 bodies. The floods and debris flows inflicted significant damage throughout northern Nepal, especially near the China border.
The government has identified 105 of the recovered bodies. Forensic work continues on the remaining victims. A total of 3,175 DNA samples have been collected for identification. This includes 1,286 samples from the deceased and 1,889 from relatives of the missing. Since the disaster, 13,742 people have been rescued. Among those listed as missing, 587 are foreign nationals, adding an international element to ongoing search and identification activities.
Records indicate 2,679 missing individuals in Rasuwa and 1,787 in Nuwakot. Both districts are within the broader zone affected by the late-August floods. Water and debris damaged homes, roads, and infrastructure across the mountainous region. Search teams continue working through river corridors, damaged communities, and sites connected to major hydropower projects. Authorities also compare local records with family reports while updating the national missing persons list.
Rescue and Identification Operations Persist
The disaster was triggered by a collapse of ice and rock on Mount Langtang Lirung, causing a powerful debris flow. The flow entered the Bhotekoshi river system and traveled through valleys and communities downstream. Rasuwa suffered major losses due to its proximity to the Nepal-China border and the flood corridor. Other impacted districts included Nuwakot, Dhading, and several areas further downstream. The August 26 event also severely disrupted infrastructure and left thousands in need of rescue or emergency aid.
Official data show helicopters have conducted 1,923 rescue flights. Authorities have set up 29 holding centers for displaced or affected individuals. The latest figures report 2,096 people in these centers. Nepal Police continue supporting rescue, relief, and community programs in affected zones. Rescue teams persist in rugged mountain terrain, while forensic experts analyze DNA samples to confirm identities of recovered victims.
Revised Data Shows Rise in Missing Persons Count
Following verification, officials updated the missing persons figure from 5,179 to 6,150. This change added 971 individuals to the national total. Authorities are working to distinguish missing persons from confirmed fatalities and identified victims. DNA matching remains central, as only 105 of the 1,403 bodies recovered have been officially identified so far. Relatives’ DNA samples are crucial to this process.
The disaster extended into China, where authorities reported 43 deaths and 519 missing people. These numbers bring the combined Nepal-China toll to 1,446 confirmed deaths and at least 6,669 missing persons. In Nepal, the latest verified figures remain 6,150 missing and 1,403 bodies recovered. Rescue, recovery, and identification efforts continue across the affected zones. Officials review district reports and forensic records to maintain an accurate count of those killed, missing, or rescued.