4 min readKathmanduUpdated: Aug 28, 2026 12:46 AM IST
With hundreds still missing in Nepal a day after a flash flood ravaged several districts in the country’s north, rescuers searched mud-filled valleys and hills for survivors as the official death count climbed to 392 Thursday night.
In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs said at least 290 Indians were still missing and around 200 others were stranded on the Chinese side of the Sino-Nepal border. It said India was in contact with authorities in Nepal and China to coordinate their rescue.
As the Nepal Army and security personnel stepped up search and rescue operations, the flood forecasting division of the Meteorology Department, quoting Chinese officials, warned about the formation of “a significant barrier lake” on the Tibetan side which posed a new threat. This prompted authorities to alert residents on either side of the Trishuli river to take safety measures and exercise extreme caution.
The warning, which was reported by China Central Television, stated: “A significant barrier lake has formed near the confluence of the Chhochen and Purepu Tsangpo rivers across the border in Tibet with its current water volume estimated at 2 million cubic metres as of Thursday morning with the lake already overflowing. Another 3 million cubic metres of water is expected to flow into the lake over the next three days, posing a high risk of a breach.”
People try to enter a safer place after flash floods, at the Devighat in Bidur, Nuwakot, Nepal, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. The death toll from the devastating flash floods surged to 359 on Thursday. (PTI Photo)
So far, over 1,000 people have been moved to safety, 60 per cent of them from the worst-hit Rasuwa district alone. Government officials have been checking with travel agents about pilgrims who had arrived in Nepal for the journey to Kailash Mansarovar.
In New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with top officials and India’s envoys to Kathmandu and Beijing. He saidIndia was making “urgent efforts” to ascertain the status and well-being of Indians stuck in flood-hit areas.
Since Wednesday night, India had sent a total of 47.5 tonnes of emergency supplies to Nepal in two military transport aircraft and was in the process of sending more relief material. India was also looking to send Bailey bridges to help with the rescue and relief efforts in Nepal – many bridges there have been swept away in the flash flood.
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Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said the missing Indians in Nepal included those working on hydropower projects and tourist groups from different states including Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
“There are 288 Indian nationals who remain uncontactable. These include 73 Indian nationals who are working on the Trishuli-1 power project. Our embassy in Kathmandu is in touch with the project head to get more details about these people,” he said.
The Ministry later revised the number of missing Indians from 288 to 290.
“We have rescued 21 Indian nationals who are from Tamil Nadu… We have received information that a number of Indian nationals who had gone on the Mansarovar Yatra are stranded on the Chinese side,” he said, adding that around 200 Indian nationals have sought assistance for evacuation.
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After chairing the high-level meeting, Jaishankar said: “Urgent efforts are underway to ascertain the status and well-being of all Indians in the flood-affected areas.”
Nepal army personnel amid a rescue and search operation after flash floods, at the Army Training Centre in Nuwakot, Nepal, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. The death toll from the devastating flash floods surged to 359 on Thursday. (PTI Photo)
He said his ministry was coordinating with various ministries, state governments, tour operators and other relevant authorities.
“We are working closely with the Nepali side, both on this aspect and on the relief efforts,” he said.
India sent a second tranche of 37.5 tonnes of relief supplies in a military transport aircraft to Nepal Thursday, a day after it dispatched 10 tonnes of HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) materials.
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“A second flight has just taken off, carrying 37.5 tonnes of HADR material, medicines and food packets for Nepal,” Jaishankar said.