Nepal flood toll rises past 1,000 as nearly 4,000 remain unaccounted for

Nepal's death toll from last week's devastating floods has crossed the 1,000 mark, with rescue teams continuing to recover bodies from riverbanks while thousands of people remain unaccounted for across the disaster-hit areas.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said in its latest update that 1,003 bodies have been recovered so far. Southern Chitwan district has reported the highest number of recoveries at 321, followed by 216 in Nawalparasi East.

The scale of the disaster remains unclear as search teams continue to trace missing people. According to the NDRRMA, 3,916 people are still out of contact, including 583 foreign nationals. The missing also include personnel working with the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and other government agencies.

A major concern is the fate of hundreds of workers employed at hydropower projects along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors. The disaster authority said 639 people working at various projects in the area remain out of contact.

Search, rescue and relief operations are continuing across the affected districts, with authorities deploying a large security force to reach isolated communities and locate missing people.

The NDRRMA said 21,314 security personnel have been mobilised for the operations. This includes 9,199 Nepali Army personnel, 7,912 from Nepal Police and 4,203 from the Armed Police Force.

So far, 11,884 people have been rescued, while 279 injured people have been reported. Authorities are still compiling details of casualties and injured victims as identification and search operations continue.

The disaster has also created a major challenge in identifying the deceased. Unidentified bodies have been kept at 21 locations across the affected areas as authorities work to establish their identities and ensure proper handling.

The hydropower sector has emerged as one of the worst-hit areas, with several projects located along the river corridors facing the full impact of the floods. The Nepali Army said it was continuing search and rescue operations at affected hydropower sites with assistance from foreign experts.

Joint operations are underway at projects including Chilime Hydropower Project, Langtang Hydropower Project, Upper Trishuli-1 and Trishuli-3A.

During the initial rescue efforts, 279 people were brought out alive from hydropower project areas. They included two people from Rasuwagadhi, 33 from Upper Trishuli-1, 221 from Upper Trishuli-3A, two from Upper Trishuli-3B, nine from Mailung, four from Nuwakot Solar Power Project, three from Trishuli Hydropower Project and five from Devghat Hydropower Project.

With thousands still unaccounted for and bodies continuing to be recovered, authorities expect the casualty figures to remain subject to change as rescue teams gain access to more remote and severely affected areas.