The Government of Nepal has said search, rescue and relief operations remain its highest priority following the 26 August 2026 Bhote Koshi floods. According to the latest figures presented at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ fifth daily briefing on 2 September, 1,114 bodies have been recovered, around 3,900 people remain missing and 11,993 people have been rescued, including more than 300 foreign nationals. Approximately 590 foreign nationals from 34 countries are still reported missing, although the figures remain subject to verification and updates.

Specialized international teams are assisting Nepali security forces with difficult tunnel-rescue operations. Indian teams are working at Langtang and Chilime, Chinese teams at Upper Trisuli 3A, and a South Korean team at Upper Trisuli 1. Nepal has also sought equipment including LiDAR systems, Bailey bridges, freezers, DNA-testing kits, high-capacity drones, load carriers, human-remains bags and gene-sequencing equipment. Forensic identification is being supported by a 19-member Indian team, a five-member Chinese team, Singaporean Disaster Victim Identification specialists and a Korean forensic team.

Authorities have begun temporarily burying unidentified bodies after completing required forensic procedures because of the growing number of recovered remains. Families of missing persons have been asked to provide DNA samples through the Nepal Police Hospital in Maharajgunj or the nearest District Police Office, while relatives abroad may prepare DNA profiles in their country of residence and send them to dnacodis@nepalpolice.gov.np. The government says the procedure is intended to preserve the possibility of later identification and return of remains to families for final rites.

Nepal is also coordinating with China regarding people stranded around the border. Of an estimated 3,000 people travelling to or from Mount Kailash during the disaster, around 2,500 have returned through Hilsa and Tatopani, while others are being assisted through Lhasa. About 1,500 Nepalis remain in Kerung, 176 Nepali trucks and containers are awaiting rerouting arrangements, and roughly 100 Nepali nationals are reported missing on the Chinese side of the border. Damage assessments of houses, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities and other infrastructure are continuing ahead of a more comprehensive reconstruction assessment.