The death toll from devastating flash floods in central Nepal rose to 626 on Saturday, with rescue teams continuing to recover bodies from several affected districts as nearly 2,000 people remained missing.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said the bodies had been recovered from eight districts of the Himalayan nation following the floods, which swept through Rasuwa and other parts of central Nepal on Wednesday.
Search, rescue and relief operations continued for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday, with emergency teams also evacuating thousands of people stranded in flood-affected areas.
Bodies recovered from eight flood-hit districts
According to the NDRRMA, Chitwan accounted for the highest number of recovered bodies, with 233 people confirmed dead in the district.
Nawalparasi East reported 158 bodies, followed by Nuwakot, where 51 bodies were recovered.
The authority said 48 bodies were recovered from Gorkha, 47 from Nawalparasi West, 45 from Dhading, 31 from Tanahu and 13 from Rasuwa.
The recovery of additional bodies pushed the overall death toll to 626 on Saturday as search teams continued operations in areas affected by the flooding.
Authorities are continuing efforts to identify victims and locate people who remain unaccounted for.
Nearly 2,000 people remain missing
Despite the evacuation and rescue efforts, nearly 2,000 people remain missing following the disaster.
The floods have severely affected several districts in central Nepal, with damaged roads and difficult terrain complicating efforts to reach some affected locations.
Rescue teams are continuing searches in areas where people are believed to have been swept away by floodwaters.
The number of missing people remains high as authorities gather information from affected communities and continue efforts to establish the full scale of the disaster.
Nearly 2,500 stranded people evacuated
Nepalese rescue teams have evacuated nearly 2,500 people who had been stranded by the floods, authorities said.
The evacuations have taken place as search and relief operations continue across affected areas.
Rescue personnel are working to move people from locations cut off by floodwaters and damaged infrastructure while also assisting communities facing shortages of essential supplies.
The large-scale operation has entered its fourth day, with authorities continuing to deploy personnel and resources to the worst-hit districts.
Flash floods caused extensive infrastructure damage
The flash floods swept through Rasuwa and other parts of central Nepal on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction.
Settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure were damaged as floodwaters moved through several parts of the region.
The destruction of roads and bridges has affected transport connectivity and created additional challenges for rescue teams attempting to reach isolated areas.
Damage to hydropower infrastructure has also added to the broader impact of the disaster, while authorities continue to assess losses across the affected districts.
Authorities warn of risk from rising water levels
On Friday, the NDRRMA warned that rising water levels at the site of the flash floods had increased the risk of another flood in the area.
The warning has added to concerns for communities and rescue workers operating near affected river systems and flood-hit locations.
Authorities are continuing to monitor water levels while carrying out search and rescue operations. The evolving conditions could further complicate efforts to locate those still missing and restore access to affected areas.
(With inputs from PTI)
Nepal floods death toll rises to 626 as nearly 2,000 people remain missing
