Kathmandu: Nepal's devastating flash floods have killed 1,252 people and left 4,216 others unaccounted for, as rescue teams continue searching for missing people and workers from hydropower projects while authorities begin planning for reconstruction and safer settlements.
The figures were released by Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority on Thursday. More than 21,000 security personnel are involved in search, rescue and relief operations across the affected areas.
Authorities said 11,993 people had been rescued so far. About 3,948 displaced people are currently staying in temporary holding centres in Nuwakot, Dhading, Rasuwa and Kathmandu.
The disaster struck on August 26 after a sudden surge of water, ice, rock and mud moved through river valleys near Nepal's border with China. Rasuwa district was among the worst affected areas, while communities further downstream also suffered extensive destruction.
The floods swept away homes, roads and bridges and caused severe damage to hydropower projects and other infrastructure.
Around 900 people working at hydropower projects remain unaccounted for. Rescue teams are continuing to search tunnels and other facilities where workers may be trapped by mud, rocks and floodwater.
At the Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower project, rescue workers have been clearing debris and trying to reach areas where people may still be trapped. The fate of all those unaccounted for at the affected hydropower sites remains uncertain.
The identification of victims is also proving difficult. Of the 1,252 bodies recovered so far, only 95 have been identified and handed over to their families.
The disaster also affected China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Chinese authorities have reported 21 deaths and 541 people missing in the affected area.
The scale of the destruction is becoming clearer as assessments continue. Nepalese authorities estimate that about 7,500 houses were completely destroyed. Around 20,000 houses may need to be rebuilt, although these remain preliminary estimates.
Some houses that are still standing may also be unsafe for people to return to. Authorities are therefore considering safer locations where affected communities could be relocated and rebuilt.
The humanitarian situation remains difficult. Access to medicines, safe drinking water and sanitation facilities remains a concern for displaced communities.
Children are particularly vulnerable. UNICEF says at least 22,000 children urgently need safe water, sanitation and hygiene support. Damaged water systems and crowded shelters have increased concerns about disease.
The United Nations Development Programme has made a preliminary estimate of about 2.2 million tonnes of debris across the affected areas. The debris includes material from damaged buildings and other infrastructure.
The floods have also caused major damage to Nepal's hydropower sector. Several hydropower stations stopped operating, while projects under construction were also damaged.
The disaster has raised questions about Nepal's ability to warn communities about sudden mountain hazards.
Nepal is planning to strengthen its early warning system near the border with China. The planned system includes seismic sensors, cameras and satellite communications. The aim is to provide authorities with real time information about river conditions and help them issue warnings if new floods occur.
At least four river monitoring stations near the border were damaged during the disaster. Officials have also been assessing locations for new monitoring equipment.
China has said it is sharing satellite and hydrological information with Nepal, including information about possible risks from upstream barrier lakes. The two countries are expected to work towards more regular cooperation on information about rivers crossing the border.
International assistance has continued since the disaster. India, China, South Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and other countries and international organisations have provided support.
China has also supplied relief materials and equipment, while international teams are assisting Nepalese authorities with rescue and relief operations.
The exact geological process that triggered the disaster is still being investigated. The event has often been described as a glacier collapse, but preliminary scientific assessments point to a sudden high altitude failure involving ice and rock.
The failure sent a large amount of water, sediment and debris downstream, causing the destructive flood. Scientists have not yet established exactly how much climate change contributed to this particular event.
The disaster has nevertheless renewed concerns about the risks facing communities in the Himalayan region as glaciers, snow, permafrost and mountain slopes undergo major changes.
For Nepal, the immediate priority remains finding missing people and helping survivors. At the same time, the government faces the difficult task of identifying safe locations, rebuilding thousands of homes and restoring damaged infrastructure.
The disaster has therefore moved beyond an emergency rescue operation into a wider recovery effort, with families still waiting for news of missing relatives while authorities prepare for a long period of reconstruction and rebuilding.