KATHMANDU / RankWire.AI / – Nepal has increased its tally of missing individuals following the August 26 floods to 6,150, after a recent district-level verification process. The initial count was 5,179, so authorities have now added 971 names to the overall total. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority provided these updated figures as search and identification efforts carried on. Since the disaster, authorities have recovered 1,403 bodies, with 105 victims officially identified thus far.
Forensic teams have gathered 3,175 DNA samples to aid in identifying victims and matching missing-person records. This figure includes 1,286 samples from recovered bodies and 1,889 from relatives of missing persons. Additionally, officials have documented 13,742 rescues since the disaster impacted northern Nepal. Currently, 587 foreign nationals remain on the missing persons list. The data highlights the extensive search operations across remote mountain districts and communities affected by floodwaters and debris.
The latest official breakdown shows Rasuwa with 2,679 missing people, while Nuwakot reports 1,787. Both districts suffered significant destruction during the late-August floods, which damaged roads, settlements, bridges, and other critical infrastructure. Search teams have traversed river valleys and ravaged communities while authorities are reviewing local records. They are cross-referencing family reports, district data, and forensic evidence to update the national tally.
Authorities Expand Count of Missing Persons
The flooding was triggered by a large-scale collapse of rock and ice on Langtang Lirung, which resulted in a destructive debris flow. This flow entered the Bhotekoshi river system, impacting downstream communities. Rasuwa, located near Nepal’s border with China, experienced some of the heaviest losses. Significant effects were also reported in Nuwakot and Dhading, where homes, transportation routes, and hydropower infrastructure suffered extensive damage, prompting large rescue efforts across the mountainous terrain.
According to the latest official figures, helicopters have completed 1,923 flights in support of rescue and relief initiatives. Authorities have also set up 29 temporary centers for displaced or affected individuals, recording 2,096 people in the most recent update. Nepal Police has played a key role in rescue, relief, and community support efforts across the impacted zones. Search teams and forensic specialists are actively processing records and samples related to those still listed as missing.
DNA Analysis Assists in Victim Identification
The rise from 5,179 to 6,150 missing persons follows additional collection and verification of data from affected districts. Authorities continue to distinguish confirmed deaths from those listed as missing and to officially identify victims. DNA matching remains a critical element of the identification process for recovered bodies, with officials comparing samples from victims to those provided by relatives. To date, only 105 of the 1,403 recovered bodies have received formal identification, according to the latest confirmed data.
The disaster also resulted in casualties in China, where officials reported 43 deaths and 519 missing persons. Overall, combined figures for Nepal and China total 1,446 confirmed fatalities and at least 6,669 missing individuals. Nepal’s verified totals remain at 6,150 missing and 1,403 bodies recovered. The ongoing search, recovery, and identification efforts continue across the affected districts, with authorities reviewing district reports, family information, and forensic records to maintain an accurate account of the disaster’s impact.