Nepal flash floods updates: Nepal, China warn of fresh flood risks; At least 290 Indians remain ‘uncontactable’

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A survivor is transported to a safer place in heavy machinery following a flash flood at Trishuli in Nuwakot district, Nepal, on August 26, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Nearly 160 people were killed and over 750, including 133 Indian nationals, remain missing after a massive flash flood originating in Tibet swept through central Nepal on Wednesday, devastating several towns and villages, washing away critical bridges, and crippling a dozen hydropower projects.

A glacial collapse caused seismic activity and “catastrophic” downstream impacts in Nepal and Tibet, the U.S. Geological Survey said on Thursday (August 27, 2026). The agency said seismic activity initially reported as an earthquake “was instead a glacial collapse and debris flow” that “caused subsequent catastrophic impacts downstream.”

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The Centre is closely monitoring the situation arising from a flash flood in Nepal , amid concerns that rising water levels could affect areas along the India-Nepal border, particularly in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Wednesday (August 26, 2026).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (August 26, 2026) called Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah and offered “all possible humanitarian assistance” to the country as it deals with a devastating flash flood that started at the Nepal-China border and went on to affect townships and tourism spots downstream of the Bhote Koshi river, including Rasuwa and Chitwan. Nepal floods: PM Modi speaks to Balendra Shah, offers humanitarian assistance PM Modi expresses condolences to Nepal's PM Shah and offers humanitarian aid following devastating floods in central Nepal.

A glacial collapse caused seismic activity and “catastrophic” downstream impacts in Nepal and Tibet, the U.S. Geological Survey said on Thursday (August 27).

The agency said seismic activity initially reported as an earthquake “was instead a glacial collapse and debris flow” that “caused subsequent catastrophic impacts downstream”.

The cause of the disaster was not immediately clear in the hours after it occurred early on Wednesday, but Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal had said an earthquake likely triggered a landslide, in turn blocking a river and sending water gushing downstream.

Other theories advanced included a glacial lake flood -when a fragile debris wall holding back glacier melt collapses - or an ice avalanche.

USGS said “a magnitude 5.2 seismic event occurred near the border between Nepal and China on Aug 26 at 8:37am local time.”- AFP

At least 157 people were confirmed dead and more than 400, including around 133 Indians, were missing or out of contact after a massive flash flood in Nepal’s Bhotekoshi River swept through villages in Rasuwa, a district bordering China’s Tibet region, on Wednesday morning, authorities said.

In an update at 11:05 p.m. (Nepal time), the Nepal Police said 157 bodies had been recovered.