Nepal Flood Death Toll Rises to 157 as Rescue Teams Search for Missing Tourists

At least 157 people have died following severe flash flooding near Nepal’s border with Tibet, with rescue teams continuing to search for missing people and tourists stranded by the disaster.

Nepal Police said multiple teams have been deployed to the flood-affected areas to conduct search and rescue operations, deliver relief supplies and recover the bodies of those killed.

A canine search team and four drones have also been deployed to assist the operation.

Police said 28 officers in Rasuwa district remain missing, while efforts to locate them and other missing people are continuing.

Authorities have urged the public to stay away from rivers, streams, flood-hit areas and other dangerous locations, and to follow instructions issued by the government and security agencies.

Nepal’s army is continuing search and rescue operations overnight, according to the office of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. A total of 1,697 personnel have been deployed, with another 656 personnel on standby.

Six military helicopters rescued 94 people during the day, while five civilian helicopters evacuated a further 12. Ground rescue teams brought another 27 people to safety.

The military has also delivered 800kg of tents and 200kg of medical supplies to areas affected by the flooding.

Authorities said a large number of people stranded above Timure, near the Nepal-Tibet border, were due to be evacuated by air on Thursday morning.

The disaster has prompted offers of assistance from several countries and international organisations.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India was prepared to provide Nepal with “all possible types of humanitarian assistance”.

The United States said its State Department was in contact with the Nepalese government and was ready to assist, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union was prepared to mobilise further assistance.

The UK said its consular team was working with local authorities on the emergency response and supporting those affected.

Canada also offered support, while Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was deeply saddened by the disaster and expressed his sympathies to the families of those who died.

Rescue operations are expected to continue as authorities work to reach people stranded in remote areas and establish the full scale of the disaster.