KATHMANDU / RankWire.AI / – Nepal has increased its count of missing persons after the Aug. 26 floods to 6,150, according to updated district-level verification data. The previous official figure was 5,179, meaning authorities have added 971 names to the national total. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority shared these revised numbers as search and identification operations were ongoing. Since the disaster, authorities have recovered 1,403 bodies and have formally identified 105 victims.
Forensic teams have collected a total of 3,175 DNA samples, assisting efforts to identify victims and reconcile missing-person reports. This sum comprises 1,286 samples from recovered bodies and 1,889 from relatives of those missing. Since the disaster struck northern Nepal, officials have recorded 13,742 rescues. Additionally, 587 foreign nationals remain on the missing list. The 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 individuals, while Nuwakot reports 1,787. Both districts endured severe damage during the late-August event, with floodwaters and debris destroying roads, settlements, bridges, and other infrastructure throughout the region. Search teams have navigated river valleys and damaged communities, working alongside authorities reviewing local records. Officials are cross-referencing family reports, district data, and forensic evidence to update the national count.
Authorities Broaden the Count of Missing Persons
The disaster was triggered by a large-scale collapse of rock and ice on Langtang Lirung, which led to a destructive debris flow. This flow entered the Bhotekoshi river system, moving downstream through affected communities. Rasuwa, near Nepal’s border with China, experienced some of the heaviest losses. Major impacts from the flooding also hit Nuwakot and Dhading, with the event damaging homes, transportation links, and hydropower infrastructure while prompting large-scale rescue operations in rugged mountain terrain.
According to official figures, helicopters have conducted 1,923 flights in support of rescue and relief efforts. Authorities have also set up 29 holding centers for displaced or affected individuals, with a total of 2,096 people recorded in these facilities in the latest update. Nepal Police have played a significant role in supporting rescue, relief, and community aid across impacted regions. Search teams and forensic specialists continue to process records and samples associated with those still listed as missing.
DNA Analysis Aids Victim Identification Process
The rise from 5,179 to 6,150 missing persons resulted from ongoing collection and verification of information from affected districts. Authorities continue to distinguish confirmed deaths from missing persons and formally identified victims. DNA matching remains a key part of identifying recovered bodies, with officials comparing samples from victims to those provided by relatives. As of now, only 105 of the 1,403 recovered bodies have received formal identification in the latest official data.
The disaster also caused fatalities across the border in China, where authorities have reported 43 deaths and 519 people missing. The combined totals for Nepal and China are 1,446 confirmed fatalities and at least 6,669 missing individuals. Nepal’s latest verified figures remain 6,150 missing and 1,403 bodies recovered. Search, recovery, and forensic work persist across the affected districts, with authorities continuing to review district reports, family records, and forensic evidence to keep an accurate official count of the disaster’s impact.