Kathmandu, September 9: The number of bodies recovered following the devastating Bhote Koshi River floods has reached 1,367, while around 5,100 people remain missing, according to the latest situation update from Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Search and rescue operations continued for the fifteenth day on Tuesday across flood-affected areas of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and other districts.

Authorities have rescued 13,646 people so far, including more than 300 foreign nationals. Around 600 foreigners from 35 countries remain among those reported missing. Three people have so far been rescued alive from affected hydropower tunnels, including two Nepali nationals from the Upper Trishuli 3A tunnel on September 4 and one Chinese national from the Upper Trishuli 1 tunnel on September 5. Rescue operations are continuing at several hydropower projects with support from international teams and specialised equipment.

Efforts to restore transport and other essential infrastructure are also progressing. Installation of an Acrow Bridge over the Tadi River at Devighat along the Galchhi–Trishuli road has been completed across 15 bays, with work on the remaining four bays underway. The Nepali Army has also begun constructing an approximately 250-metre suspension bridge to connect Trishuli Bazaar, while excavators are being deployed for road and site clearance in the Dhunge and Devighat areas.

Meanwhile, international forensic teams are assisting Nepal Police with DNA identification of recovered bodies, and the government has requested additional rescue and recovery equipment from international partners. Nepal is also finalising its Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment while conducting a comprehensive Post Disaster Needs Assessment to determine the scale of losses and reconstruction requirements. As of September 8, 736 Nepali nationals affected on the China side had returned through the Tatopani border point, with another 32 expected to return on September 9.