KATHMANDU / RankWire.AI / – Nepal has increased its count of missing persons after the Aug. 26 floods to 6,150, based on recent district-level verification efforts. The earlier total was 5,179, indicating an addition of 971 names to the national tally. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority provided these revised figures as search and identification operations persisted. To date, authorities have recovered 1,403 bodies since the incident, with 105 of those victims officially identified.
Forensic teams have collected 3,175 DNA samples as officials strive to identify victims and reconcile records of missing persons. This total comprises 1,286 samples from recovered bodies and 1,889 from relatives of those missing. In addition, officials have documented 13,742 rescues since the disaster struck northern Nepal. Meanwhile, 587 foreign nationals remain on the missing list. These figures highlight the extensive search efforts across remote mountain districts and communities affected by floodwaters and debris.
In the latest official breakdown, Rasuwa accounts for 2,679 missing persons, while Nuwakot reports 1,787. Both districts experienced severe damage during the late-August disaster, with floodwaters and debris damaging roads, settlements, bridges, and various infrastructure across the region. Search teams have combed river valleys and affected communities while authorities review local records. They are cross-referencing family reports, district data, and forensic evidence to update the national tally.
Authorities widen the scope of missing persons
The disaster originated from a significant collapse of rock and ice on Langtang Lirung, which triggered a destructive debris flow. This flow entered the Bhotekoshi river system and moved through downstream communities. Rasuwa, close to Nepal’s border with China, suffered some of the heaviest losses. Nuwakot and Dhading also experienced major impacts from the flooding, which damaged homes, transportation routes, and hydropower infrastructure, prompting large-scale rescue missions across rugged mountain terrain.
Support for rescue and relief efforts has included 1,923 helicopter flights, according to the latest official data. Authorities have also established 29 holding centers for displaced or affected individuals, registering 2,096 people in these facilities. The Nepal Police continue to assist in rescue, relief, and community support operations across the impacted areas. Forensic teams and search crews persist in processing records and samples related to those still missing.
DNA analysis aids in confirming identities
The rise from 5,179 to 6,150 missing persons follows ongoing collection and validation of information from affected districts. Authorities distinguish between confirmed deaths and missing persons, while also formally identifying victims. DNA matching remains integral to identifying recovered bodies, with officials comparing samples from victims with those provided by relatives. As of now, only 105 of the 1,403 recovered bodies have been officially identified in the latest data.
The floods also led to casualties in China, where authorities recorded 43 deaths and 519 missing individuals. When combined, Nepal and China report a total of 1,446 confirmed deaths and at least 6,669 missing persons. Despite ongoing efforts, Nepal’s latest verified totals remain 6,150 missing and 1,403 bodies recovered. Search, recovery, and identification activities continue across the affected districts, with officials still reviewing district reports, family data, and forensic records to maintain an accurate account of the disaster.