Flood death toll reaches 903 as missing persons surge to 4,247

The death toll from the severe flooding in Bhotekoshi has risen to 903, while more than 4,200 people remain missing, authorities said on Monday, as rescue teams continued searching for victims and survivors.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said 903 bodies had been recovered as of 9 am local time.

A total of 4,247 people now remain unaccounted for, including security personnel, government employees, foreign nationals and people stranded at hydropower projects. NDRRMA reported 2,502 people missing in its Sunday evening update, meaning the number of missing people has increased by 1,745 since then. 

The sharp rise in the missing-persons figure follows revisions by the District Emergency Operation Centres (DEOCs) in Rasuwa and Nuwakot. The number of people reported missing in Rasuwa and Nuwakot now stands at 865 and 1,558, respectively, up from 562 and 115 in the previous figures.

Those missing include 25 Nepal Police personnel, 45 Nepal Army personnel and 13 members of the Armed Police Force. Authorities also reported 592 missing foreign nationals and 127 Nepali citizens who were traveling with foreigners.

At least 933 people associated with various hydropower projects are also missing.

On Sunday, 15 Chinese nationals and seven Indian nationals stranded at hydropower projects were rescued by air.

Seventeen rescue flights had been conducted by Monday morning, the disaster authority said.

Of the 267 people injured in the floods, 156 have been discharged from hospitals after treatment.

More than 20,800 security personnel have been deployed for search-and-rescue operations, including 7,894 police officers, 8,722 army personnel and 4,203 members of the Armed Police Force, says the disaster agency.