One month after catastrophic floods struck Nepal, 33 British nationals remain among thousands still missing, according to recent reports. The floods, which hit on 26 August along the Bhote Koshi River, caused at least 1,453 deaths and left more than 6,000 people, including hundreds of foreign nationals, unaccounted for. The affected areas included Rasuwa and Nuwakot, where massive waves, similar to those of a tsunami, destroyed towns and villages. Nepal's disaster management agency has confirmed that only 112 bodies of any nationality have been identified and returned to families after DNA testing, while the remaining 1,333 bodies found so far have been temporarily buried until they can be identified. Technical assistance from China and India has been provided, but the identification process remains difficult.
Among the missing are 33 Britons, 80 Americans, more than 50 Ukrainian nationals, as well as Australians and Indians. In neighboring China, officials reported 261 foreign nationals missing. Pramod Poudel, 34, from Uckfield in East Sussex, has been searching for his missing family members, including his wife, mother, brother, and uncle. He expressed doubt about their survival, stating that he must accept they may no longer be alive.
Nepal's government is struggling to re-house and provide support to an estimated 33,000 displaced people, many of whom have been living in tents at rehabilitation shelters. The UK Foreign Office said it is coordinating with Nepali and Chinese authorities to support British nationals and their families. Pasang Maya Tamang, 32, who lost her young son in the floods, described the emotional toll of the tragedy, noting that she still dreams of her son pleading for help.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah highlighted the flooding as a warning about the growing risks of the climate crisis during his address to the UN General Assembly. He called for greater international support for Nepal's recovery and stronger regional cooperation to prepare for climate-related disasters. The government estimates that reconstruction and recovery will cost $4.77 billion and is seeking $20 million from the global fund for responding to loss and damage. More than 800 people employed at 12 hydropower projects in Nepal are still unaccounted for.
Rescue teams continue to search for survivors, with additional vehicles and helicopters deployed for mobilisation. The rescue of a Chinese national from a tunnel on the 12th day after the floods, following the discovery of two hydropower plant employees alive on the 10th day, had raised hopes of finding more survivors. However, those hopes appear to be fading, with 47 bodies recovered from flood-hit project sites.
The floods severely damaged Nepal's hydropower sector, a crucial driver of economic growth. Aid agencies have warned that further heavy rainfall could increase the threat of landslides, making it harder for help to reach areas where roads have already been damaged by the floods. Roads engineer Ishmita Shah noted that crews have been working with Nepal's army to reopen routes in affected areas and build bridges to improve access to the worst-affected regions. However, the work remains difficult, with more bad weather expected in the coming days.
Nepal Floods Leave Dozens of Foreign Nationals Missing as Search Continues
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