Government says nearly 12,000 people rescued, billions of rupees mobilized for relief, major roads and bridges destroyed; opposition leaders accuse authorities of delays, weak coordination and failure to rescue workers trapped inside hydropower tunnels

KATHMANDU — Prime Minister Balen Shah has delivered a detailed statement before Nepal’s House of Representatives defending his government’s response to the catastrophic Bhotekoshi–Trishuli flood disaster, as the confirmed death toll climbed to 1,114 and 3,916 people remained out of contact.

Addressing Parliament amid mounting public scrutiny over rescue operations, management of unidentified bodies, assistance from foreign countries and the fate of people believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels, Shah described the disaster as a tragedy that had struck the entire country.

“This pain is not only that of Rasuwa, Nuwakot or Dhading. It is a thunderbolt that has struck the chest of the whole of Nepal,” the prime minister told lawmakers, expressing condolences to bereaved families and solidarity with relatives still awaiting news of missing loved ones.

The devastating flood struck the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa on August 26, triggering destruction downstream through the Trishuli river corridor and causing extraordinary human and infrastructure losses.

According to Shah’s account, the government received information about the massive flood at approximately 8:45 a.m. while he was preparing to answer questions in Parliament. District authorities were subsequently instructed to issue warnings, residents in riverside settlements were urged to move to safer locations, an emergency meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority was convened and telecommunications companies were instructed to send alerts to residents.

The first Nepal Army helicopter was dispatched for rescue operations at approximately 9:45 a.m., according to the prime minister. Additional security personnel, helicopters, drones and emergency response teams were later mobilized.

An emergency Cabinet meeting also declared 15 local governments disaster crisis zones for three months, authorized financial assistance for families of those killed, ordered free treatment for injured victims and directed authorities to restore damaged electricity, telecommunications, roads and drinking-water systems.

Nearly 12,000 Rescued, 3,916 Still Missing

Presenting the latest government figures to Parliament, Shah said 11,993 people had been rescued from flood-affected areas.

However, 3,916 people were still out of contact, highlighting the enormous scale of the continuing search operation.

The prime minister said 292 injured people had been admitted to hospitals, of whom 182 had already been discharged after treatment.

On the day following the disaster, the government had already deployed 13,295 personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, while 351 people were rescued through 69 helicopter flights, Shah said.

Authorities prioritized severely injured people, pregnant and postpartum women, children, senior citizens and people with disabilities during helicopter evacuations. Temporary arrangements were also prepared in schools and community buildings to accommodate approximately 3,500 displaced people.

The government said medical teams, including specialists, had been sent to affected areas and that psychological counseling was being provided alongside physical treatment.

Authorities have also begun post-disaster disease surveillance and public-health campaigns in an attempt to prevent outbreaks of communicable diseases.

At least 2,653 flood victims were receiving shelter and relief at 19 temporary shelters in Nuwakot, according to the prime minister.

Death Toll Reaches 1,114

One of the most sensitive issues addressed by the prime minister was the growing number of recovered bodies and the government’s decision to temporarily bury unidentified victims.

Shah told Parliament that 1,114 bodies had been recovered as of shortly before his address.

Of those, 95 bodies had been formally identified and handed over to their families, according to the government.

The handling of unidentified bodies has generated public criticism and concern, particularly among families searching for missing relatives.

The prime minister rejected suggestions that bodies were being buried without preserving the possibility of future identification.

He said unidentified remains were being managed according to legal and scientific procedures, with DNA samples and other identifying evidence preserved before temporary burial.

Once DNA or other evidence establishes an identity, the remains would be handed over to the relevant families so they can perform funeral rites according to their respective religious and cultural traditions, Shah said.

He urged the public not to be misled by misinformation surrounding the process.

More Than Rs 7 Billion Raised for Relief

Shah also disclosed substantial financial mobilization for rescue, relief and reconstruction.

According to the prime minister, approximately Rs 7.008 billion had been deposited into government disaster and relief funds.

Of that amount, Rs 1 billion had already been released to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, while Rs 67.5 million had been distributed among 15 local governments in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Tanahun.

The remaining balance stood at approximately Rs 6.008 billion, while an additional US$6.14 million had also been received, according to the figures presented in Parliament.

The prime minister and Cabinet ministers had earlier decided to contribute one month of their salaries to the Prime Minister’s Relief and Rescue Fund.

International Assistance Accepted, PM Says

Another major controversy centered on allegations that the government had hesitated or delayed in accepting international rescue assistance.

Shah rejected that criticism.

“There is no question that we would refuse international assistance during a disaster of this magnitude,” he told Parliament, insisting that Nepal had been coordinating with foreign governments from the beginning and had attempted to simplify procedures for incoming assistance.

The prime minister said Nepal had received assistance from countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, the United States, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Switzerland, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and the United Kingdom.

International institutions including the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, European Union and United Nations had also provided assistance or support, he said.

Indian, Chinese and Korean specialist teams were also reported to be involved in rescue operations around affected hydropower projects.

Hydropower Sector Suffers Massive Damage

The floods caused extensive damage to Nepal’s energy infrastructure.

According to Shah, eight operational hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 281 megawatts and four projects under construction totaling 388 megawatts were damaged.

The disaster disrupted approximately 431.1 megawatts of electricity generation, with some facilities expected to require extensive investment before they can return to operation.

Electricity restoration was continuing, with the government reporting service restored to around 85 percent of Nuwakot, 98 percent of Dhading and 40 percent of Rasuwa.

Communications services had also been restored to about 95 percent of affected areas, while 30 satellite phones were being used in locations that remained outside conventional telecommunications coverage.

Roads and Bridges Swept Away

Transport infrastructure also suffered catastrophic damage.

The government said approximately 40 kilometers of the Bidur–Betravati–Mailung–Syabrubesi–Rasuwagadhi road section was completely destroyed, while another 16 kilometers sustained partial damage.

Sections of the Prithvi Highway were also severely affected.

The flood damaged 48 suspension bridges, of which 20 could potentially be repaired while 28 would have to be rebuilt.

Another 31 motorable bridges were swept away.

The government has begun installing Bailey bridges at selected locations and is studying the possibility of installing them at about 20 additional sites.

Tunnel Rescue Becomes Major Political Flashpoint

The fate of people believed to remain trapped inside hydropower tunnels became one of the most contentious issues in Parliament.

Shah argued that the rescue challenge was unlike a conventional tunnel collapse.

According to his explanation, the tunnels had not simply been blocked by fallen rocks or landslides but had been filled with floodwater, mud and sediment, creating extremely dangerous conditions for rescuers and heavy machinery.

He claimed there was no technology capable of immediately resolving a disaster of precisely this nature and said rescue teams would have to wait for conditions to become sufficiently stable for personnel and machinery to operate safely.

The Nepal Army, supported by international specialists, was continuing tunnel search and rescue operations, the prime minister said.

Opposition lawmakers, however, strongly challenged the government’s explanation.

Opposition Accuses Government of Failure and Delay

Opposition leader Bhishma Raj Angdembe sharply criticized the government for what he described as a failure to bring in experts quickly enough.

He questioned whether deaths inside the tunnels should be regarded simply as deaths or whether government delay had contributed to the loss of life.

Angdembe also demanded the formation of a high-level parliamentary special committee to oversee immediate disaster management, reconstruction, rehabilitation and long-term disaster-risk reduction.

Despite his criticism, he pledged opposition support for the humanitarian response, calling for the country to prioritize saving lives, finding missing people, providing relief and securing displaced families.

CPN-UML parliamentary leader Ram Bahadur Thapa “Badal” proposed a seven-point response plan, including greater political consensus and the formation of specialized task forces.

He proposed a foreign minister-led mechanism for international assistance and coordination, a defense minister-led rescue and relief task force, and a finance minister-led reconstruction mechanism.

Badal also called for a broader national dialogue on climate-related disasters.

Former Prime Minister and Communist Party leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” was also critical.

While acknowledging the mobilization of the security forces, Prachanda argued that the government had failed to mobilize the wider population and build sufficient cooperation among political parties, different levels of government and society.

“The Army was mobilized, but the people were not mobilized,” he said, accusing the government of failing in both public mobilization and parts of the rescue effort.

He also criticized Shah’s reliance on social media communications and called for greater humility and political cooperation during a national emergency.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party parliamentary leader Gyanendra Bahadur Shahi challenged the prime minister’s claim about the absence of suitable technology for tunnel rescue, arguing that relevant technologies were being used elsewhere in the world.

Rastriya Swatantra Party deputy parliamentary leader Ganesh Parajuli, meanwhile, said the immediate priority should neither be concealing government weaknesses nor dismissing the efforts already made.

He called for the mobilization of Nepalese and international experts including hydrologists, geologists, glaciologists, tunnel specialists, engineers, doctors, technology experts and former security personnel.

Climate Change Emerges as Central Concern

The prime minister also linked the catastrophe to the growing vulnerability of the Himalayan region.

He said experts had described the Bhotekoshi disaster as being associated with a massive snow-and-rock avalanche in the Himalayan region and argued that the catastrophe demonstrated the rapidly increasing risks facing mountain communities.

The disaster, Shah said, was a warning that Nepal must more forcefully present the consequences it is suffering from climate change before the international community.

“Climate change is the result of global contributions, and mitigating and managing its impacts is a shared responsibility of the global community,” he argued.

The Speaker of the House similarly said Nepal needed to establish climate change as a national security concern at the international level and strengthen its voice in global discussions over climate-related loss and damage.

He called for systematic monitoring of glaciers and glacial lakes and a shift from primarily responding to disasters after they occur toward building a stronger culture of preparedness.

Parliament Passes Special Resolution

Following the prime minister’s statement and debate among political parties, the House of Representatives passed a special resolution on the Rasuwa flood disaster.

The resolution called for national unity and the coordinated mobilization of the federal, provincial and local governments, political parties, civil society and all state institutions for search and rescue operations, proper treatment of the injured and rehabilitation of displaced citizens.

Members of Parliament also observed one minute of silence in memory of those who lost their lives.

Despite escalating political disagreements over how the disaster was handled, Shah concluded his address by promising that the search for missing people would continue and that the government would remain responsible for both immediate shelter and long-term rehabilitation.

“No one will be left behind,” he told Parliament.

“The government was with you yesterday, it is with you today, and it will remain with you tomorrow.”

**********

AN URGENT HUMANITARIAN APPEAL TO PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Washington, D.C.
September 1, 2026

The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Subject: Respectful Appeal for Expanded U.S. Humanitarian Assistance to Nepal Following the Catastrophic Flood Disaster

Dear Mr. President:

With profound respect, I write to you at an exceptionally difficult moment for Nepal and the Nepali people from Federation of International Journalist, America – FIJA Family.

Nepal deeply appreciates the humanitarian assistance, friendship, and support already extended by the Government and people of the United States following the catastrophic floods and natural disaster that have devastated large areas of the country.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, America.

The magnitude of this tragedy, however, has created an extraordinary humanitarian emergency requiring greater international assistance.

More than a thousand people have reportedly lost their lives, thousands remain missing, and countless families continue desperately searching for their loved ones. Foreign nationals, including Americans and citizens of other countries, Journalists, Mideas have also been affected by this devastating disaster.

Entire communities have been destroyed or severely damaged. Thousands of survivors have lost their homes, livelihoods, property, and access to essential services. Roads, bridges, communications systems, and other critical infrastructure have been swept away or seriously damaged. Search, rescue, relief, medical, and recovery operations continue under extremely challenging geographic and weather conditions.

At this critical hour, Nepal urgently needs stronger international humanitarian assistance, and continued American leadership can make an immediate and life-saving difference.

Mr. President, I respectfully appeal to you and your Administration to consider expanding United States humanitarian assistance to Nepal, particularly in the areas of:

• Search-and-rescue operations and specialized rescue equipment;
• Emergency medical personnel, medicines, and field medical support;
• Food, safe drinking water, sanitation, and emergency supplies;
• Temporary shelters and assistance for displaced families;
• Helicopters, transportation, and logistical support for inaccessible areas;
• Emergency communications and disaster-response equipment;
• Technical expertise in disaster management and recovery;
• Identification and support for victims and missing persons;
• Rehabilitation of damaged communities and essential infrastructure; and
• Long-term reconstruction and disaster-resilience assistance.

I also respectfully appeal to the United States Congress—including the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives, the leadership and Members of the United States Senate, and the leadership of both the Republican and Democratic parties—to give this humanitarian emergency urgent consideration and support additional assistance for Nepal.

Nepal and the United States share a longstanding friendship built over decades of diplomatic relations, development cooperation, democratic values, mutual respect, and strong people-to-people ties. Generations of Nepalis have regarded the United States as an important friend and partner.

This appeal transcends politics, parties, governments, and national boundaries.

This is about saving human lives.

It is about parents searching for missing children, children waiting for missing parents, and families desperately hoping to find brothers, sisters, relatives, and friends.

It is about survivors who saw their homes and livelihoods disappear within moments.

It is about providing hope to people who have lost almost everything.

And it is about helping a friendly nation recover from one of the most painful humanitarian tragedies in its recent history.

I therefore also respectfully appeal to the American people, humanitarian organizations, charitable foundations, faith-based organizations, businesses, medical institutions, Nepali-American communities, and all friends of Nepal throughout the United States: Please stand with Nepal during this hour of extraordinary need.

The United States has a long and distinguished tradition of humanitarian leadership and of standing beside people facing disasters and tragedies around the world. The people of Nepal will always remember those who stood with them during this darkest and most difficult period.

Mr. President, Nepal needs America’s continued friendship, compassion, leadership, and greater humanitarian support now.

On behalf of the victims, survivors, grieving families, displaced communities, and all those who continue searching for their loved ones, I respectfully make this humanitarian appeal:

PLEASE STAND WITH NEPAL.

PLEASE HELP SAVE LIVES.

PLEASE HELP FIND THE MISSING.

PLEASE HELP THE SURVIVORS.

PLEASE HELP NEPAL RECOVER AND REBUILD.

With profound respect, appreciation, and gratitude,

Ram Prasad Khanal
President
Federation of International Journalist, America (FIJA)
Washington, D.C.
United States of America

CC:

The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Members of the United States House of Representatives

The Majority and Minority Leadership of the United States Senate
Members of the United States Senate

Republican Leadership of the United States Congress

Democratic Leadership of the United States Congress

The United States Department of State

The United States Agency for International Development and relevant U.S. humanitarian and disaster-response agencies

The Embassy of the United States of America in Nepal

American Humanitarian and Charitable Organizations

Nepali-American Community Organizations Across the United States

The American People

Members of the Media