India Sends Fifth Relief Flight to Nepal as Flood Death Toll Passes 1,100

NEW DELHI — India has sent a fifth aircraft carrying an 11-member specialised rescue team and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines to Nepal, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced on Wednesday. The flight departs as Nepal grapples with the aftermath of catastrophic flash floods triggered by a glacial collapse in Tibet on August 26.

The minister said on X, "The fifth Indian aircraft has departed for Nepal. It is carrying a 11-member rescue team with specialised equipment, and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines." This latest deployment brings the total Indian assistance to over 68 tonnes of emergency relief materials, including blankets, sleeping bags, heavy-duty tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, hygiene kits, essential medicines, food packets, solar lamps, water purification tablets, and portable generators, according to the External Affairs Minister's office.

Rising Toll and Ongoing Rescue Efforts

The death toll from the floods has risen to 1,127, according to the Nepal Police. A district-wise breakdown shows 348 bodies recovered in Chitwan, 217 in Nawalparasi East, 190 in Nawalparasi West, 155 in Nuwakot, 66 in Gorkha, 59 in Dhading, 45 in Rasuwa, and 38 in Tanahun. The Nepal Police also reported nine bodies recovered in India. Of the total recovered, only 95 have so far been handed over to families after identification.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said the number of bodies recovered has reached 1,003, with the highest number—321—in Chitwan district. The authority also reported that 4,606 people remain unaccounted for, including 583 foreigners, leading to concerns that the death toll could rise further.

Nepali authorities said efforts are underway to locate missing persons at various hydropower projects along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. At the request of Nepal's government, both India and China have sent technical teams to assist in search and rescue operations inside the hydropower tunnels.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) detailed the challenging conditions faced by the 24-member Indian tunnel rescue team deployed at the hydropower tunnels in Chilime, including extremely restricted access, difficult terrain, and marshy tunnel floors. Using innovative methods and improvised floats, rescue personnel have been able to advance deeper into the subterranean passages. The MEA confirmed that these efforts will continue on Wednesday in an effort to reach any individuals potentially trapped inside.

Government Response and Identification Process

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah said in a Facebook post that the bodies of those who lost their lives, as well as those who remain unidentified, are being managed according to the law and through scientific procedures. "The government is managing only those bodies that are found in an unidentifiable condition, while preserving DNA samples and other evidence that could assist in their identification," he said. He added that the operation is being carried out with the assistance of the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and the Armed Police Force, and that identified bodies are being handed over to their families.

The number of Indian nationals rescued from the disaster-hit regions has reached 163, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said that 151 Indian nationals left China on Tuesday.

International Forensic and Rescue Support

A 19-member Indian forensic team has begun analysing DNA samples in coordination with Nepali forensic experts to help identify the victims. The Indian forensic team has expanded its operations in close coordination with its Nepalese counterparts and is actively undertaking DNA examination and analysis to expedite the processing of samples and streamline victim identification, according to the MEA.