Emergency rescue operations are underway at high speed in the mountainous regions of northern Nepal along the Tibet border following catastrophic flash floods and landslides. Search and rescue teams have recovered 160 bodies from various inaccessible locations.
A state of emergency remains in place across Bagmati Province and surrounding affected regions due to the severe degradation of conditions. More than 844 people—including over 450 foreign nationals—remain missing. Among the missing are at least 133 Indian citizens, alongside nationals from at least 28 countries including the United States, Australia, the Netherlands, and Malaysia.
The disaster struck on Wednesday (August 26, 2026) around 8:37 AM local time following strong seismic tremors and severe snow-weather disruptions that blocked natural river courses. Subsequently, a torrent of mud, ice, and mountain runoff surged into Rasuwa district and neighboring border areas.
Impact on Pilgrims and Tourists: Hundreds of pilgrims heading toward the sacred Manasarovar region as well as trekking tourists were trapped or went missing under massive mudslides.
Border Crossings & Infrastructure: The surge of mud and debris caused extensive damage across the border at Gyirong (Jirong) Port in Tibet, destroying vital infrastructure, power plants, and communication links.
