Emergency teams are searching for over 2,400 missing people after a glacial collapse triggered catastrophic flooding in Nepal.
Key facts
- •The death toll has reached 586, with more than 2,400 people still reported missing.
- •The disaster was caused by a glacial collapse, marking the deadliest event in Nepal since the 2015 earthquake.
- •A group of 77 pilgrims from the Isha Foundation remains out of contact near the China-Nepal border.
- •India has deployed a specialized medical and tunnel rescue team to assist in the search operations.
- •The missing persons list includes 933 hydropower workers and various trekkers and pilgrims.
Rescue teams in Nepal and China are working to locate thousands of people missing after a massive glacial collapse caused deadly flash floods in the Himalayan region. As of Saturday, August 29, 2026, authorities have recovered 586 bodies, with some victims found as far away as India. The disaster, described as the deadliest in Nepal since the 2015 earthquake, has prompted a large-scale international relief effort.
By the numbers
Scope of the disaster
The disaster was triggered by a glacial collapse that sent a wall of icy debris through villages, according to the US Geological Survey. The number of missing individuals exceeded 2,400 by Friday, August 28. The list of missing persons includes 933 hydropower workers, as well as trekkers and pilgrims traveling to Mount Kailash in Tibet.
International response and missing pilgrims
India has provided assistance through multiple flights, with the third flight arriving in Kathmandu on Friday night carrying an 11-member specialized medical and tunnel rescue team. Relief supplies were delivered to Nepal's Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mahabir Pun. Meanwhile, a group of 77 pilgrims associated with the Isha Foundation remains missing near the China-Nepal border. Coordinator Maa Gambhiri stated that the group includes participants from 19 nationalities and that they are seeking support from embassies in India, China, and Nepal.
Timeline
- August 28, 2026The number of missing persons surpassed 2,400.
- August 28, 2026A third flight carrying Indian assistance and a specialized rescue team arrived in Kathmandu.
- August 29, 2026Rescue teams continued efforts to locate thousands of missing people.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Hindu.
