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Situational awareness only. Follow DHM, NDRRMA and local authorities for official warnings and public-safety instructions.
Operational monitoring paused · Standby

Rasuwa / Bhotekoshi–Trishuli Flood

Rapid Satellite & Geospatial Situation Intelligence · 26 August 2026
A NESRA FloodWatch product · Programme Lead: Anamol Mittal (Founder & President, NESRA) · Earth Observation Lead: Michael Hylind
Final scheduled cutoffPage updatedEO assessmentv1 · imagery 27 Aug · unchangedStatusOperational monitoring paused · Standby
Standby is not closure. This is a NESRA institutional monitoring decision, not a declaration that the disaster, Government-led search and rescue, recovery work or missing-person cases have ended. Follow DHM, NDRRMA and local authorities for official warnings and public-safety instructions.
Read Situation Brief #08Brief #08 PDFनेपाली सारांश #08

Situation Brief #08 is the final scheduled brief before standby. Situation Briefs #01–#07 remain immutable archived snapshots.

NESRA operational status

Operational monitoring paused · Standby

Final scheduled cutoff: Publication: 13 Sep 2026

Government reporting available at the cutoff still described active search and rescue, unresolved missing-person cases, clearance work and recovery assessment. NESRA will resume event-driven monitoring if an authoritative tunnel or SAR outcome, a major reconciled data revision, a new emergency satellite product, DHM warning escalation, a new corridor event, or a partner request creates a material information need.

Operational Snapshot

Rasuwa FloodWatch — historical operational snapshot through 2 September 2026

Last updated: Situation data cutoff: Status: Historical snapshot retained

Current situation

Current risk
One barrier lake near the border was reported fully drained (Chinese technical statement, 30 Aug). Glaciers and landslide deposits around the source zone are reported unstable (technical assessment). DHM has active flood/rainfall warnings for Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi and Chitwan. The hazard is not over.
Authority: DHM warning / technical assessmentReported: 31 Aug 2026 · follow DHM live guidanceClassification: Official warning and authority-attributed technical assessment
Official impact
1,204 bodies and human remains recovered (NDRRMA). Reported as a recovered-remains metric — not a final confirmed death toll.
Authority: NDRRMAReported: 2 Sep 2026 · 18:00 NPTClassification: Official / provisional · recovered remains are not a final confirmed death toll
Missing / unaccounted
~4,216 unaccounted for. Reconciliation remains ongoing; unaccounted does not mean confirmed dead.
Authority: NDRRMAReported: 2 Sep 2026 · 18:00 NPTClassification: Official / provisional · reconciliation ongoing
Access
Prithvi Highway remains completely blocked at Krishnabhir (Dhading). Authorities reported about 70 m fallen into the Trishuli and another 120 m cracked; authority-directed alternatives are in use. The primary Rasuwagadhi corridor remains severely disrupted.
Authority basis: Department of Roads and traffic-authority reportingClassification: Physical condition and passability reported separatelyCaveat: Diversions do not equal primary-corridor reopening
Response
11,993 rescued; 21,314 security personnel deployed; 301 injured (182 discharged in an earlier 2 Sep update). Approximately 900 people were reported unaccounted for at hydropower sites.
Authority: NDRRMA; Prime Minister for the earlier discharged subsetReported: 2 Sep 2026 · 18:00 NPT; discharged subset reported earlier on 2 SepClassification: Official / provisional
Essential services
Power: NEA reports electricity restored across most of Kalika, Naukunda, Dhunche, Bharkhu and Gosainkunda; repairs continue. Telecom: 145 of 198 towers restored (29 Aug) and seven key BTS sites (30 Aug) — tower restoration is not full coverage.
Authorities: NEA / Nepal TelecomClassification: Partial restoration · not confirmation of full service coverage
Earth Observation
NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 is unchanged. International Charter lists 21 products; Copernicus EMSR927 is ongoing with 6 AOIs and 8 product records; Sentinel Asia lists PlanetScope-, Sentinel-1- and ALOS-2-based products.
Analysis: NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 · Sentinel-2 acquisition 27 Aug 2026Classification: NESRA analysis; external products are not NESRA findingsCaveat: Exposure does not equal verified damage
Changes since previous update

Reviewed through

  • External emergency-mapping inventories expanded: International Charter activation 1052 listed 21 products. Copernicus EMSR927 remained ongoing with six AOIs and eight product records, Sentinel Asia listed additional ALOS-2, Sentinel-1 and PlanetScope products, and a UNESCO IHP-WINS damage-grading dataset for Syapru Besi and Timure was registered. These external products are not NESRA findings; NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 is unchanged.Reported: · Authority: International Charter / Copernicus EMS / Sentinel Asia · Classification: TECHNICAL_ASSESSMENT · Source
  • 1,204 bodies/remains recovered; approximately 4,216 unaccounted; 11,993 rescued: NDRRMA reported 301 injured, 21,314 security personnel deployed and 3,453 people in holding centres; 95 recovered remains had been identified and returned to families. Approximately 900 people were reported unaccounted for at hydropower sites. Recovered remains are not a final confirmed death toll; all figures remain provisional.Reported: · Authority: NDRRMA · Classification: OFFICIAL_PROVISIONAL · Source
  • Krishnabhir remains completely blocked; major road collapse documented: Authorities reported about 70 metres of the Prithvi Highway fallen into the Trishuli and another 120 metres cracked. Authority-directed alternatives are in use; this does not mean the primary corridor has reopened. A stated September reopening objective is a target, not current passability.Reported: · Authority: Department of Roads / traffic authorities · Classification: AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED · Source
Show all changes
  • Impact revised (NDRRMA, 31 Aug 09:00 NPT): 903 bodies and human remains recovered, ~4,247 unaccounted for (incl. 592 foreign nationals) and 10,451 rescued; 267 injured (156 discharged), 20,819 security personnel and 411 helicopter flights (3,344 Nepalis + 252 foreign airlifted). Recovered remains are not a final confirmed death toll.
  • Hydropower tunnel focus: ~933 workers unaccounted for at 11 flood-affected hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot; the Nepal Army with Indian and Chinese specialists searched the Rasuwagadhi (111 MW) tunnel and found no people inside (~93 of its workers still missing). Three bodies were recovered from two tunnels.
  • Power restoration: the NEA reports electricity restored across most of Kalika, Naukunda, Dhunche, Bharkhu and Gosainkunda; repairs continue. Roughly 10% of national generation capacity was affected.
  • EO unchanged: NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 remains the latest NESRA EO product; external products (International Charter 8, Copernicus EMSR927, Sentinel Asia) are unchanged.
  • New brief: Situation Brief #07 published (data cutoff ).
Current official risk status

Barrier lake reported drained; glacier & landslide instability under assessment

One barrier lake near the Nepal–China border was reported fully drained (Chinese technical statement via media, 30 August). Glaciers and multiple landslide deposits around the source and impact zone are reported to remain unstable, with a possibility that further collapse could create new impoundments — a technical / remote-sensing assessment, not an official warning. DHM has issued flood/rainfall warnings for communities along rivers in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi and Chitwan. The hazard is not over. FloodWatch does not reproduce live gauge values: follow DHM River Watch and official warnings for current decisions.

Classification: OFFICIAL / AUTHORITY-ATTRIBUTED REPORTING. NDRRMA warning via AP, reviewed 30 Aug 2026; barrier-lake technical context via Reuters. The warning does not establish a quantified flood crest, and satellite interpretation does not substitute for DHM guidance.

Situation reviewed

The Nepali option displays the high-priority Nepali summary. Detailed technical and archival sections may remain available in English.

नेपाली सारांश — मुख्य जानकारी

यो उच्च–प्राथमिकता जानकारीको नेपाली सारांश हो। सङ्ख्या, स्रोत, समय र अवस्था अंग्रेजी संस्करणसँग मिल्दो छ।

हालको आधिकारिक जोखिम अवस्था

NDRRMA ले 30 Aug मा भोटेकोशीको जलस्तर फेरि बढेको रिपोर्ट गर्दै रसुवा, नुवाकोट, धादिङ र चितवनमा सतर्कता अपनाउन आग्रह गरेको छ। एउटा अवरोधित ताल ठूलो मात्रामा निकास भएको र अर्को crater lake को निगरानी जारी रहेको प्राविधिक विवरण छ। यो 29 Aug को “सतर्कता तहभन्दा तल” विवरणभन्दा नयाँ अवस्था हो। हालको निर्णयका लागि DHM र आधिकारिक चेतावनी पालना गर्नुहोस्।

आधिकारिक प्रभाव
1,204 शव तथा मानव अवशेष फेला — NDRRMA, 2 सेप्टेम्बर 2026, 18:00 NPT; प्रारम्भिक। यो अन्तिम प्रमाणित मृत्यु संख्या होइन; 95 अवशेष मात्र पहिचान गरी परिवारलाई बुझाइएको थियो।
सम्पर्कविहीन व्यक्ति
~4,216 — NDRRMA, 2 सेप्टेम्बर 2026, 18:00 NPT; प्रारम्भिक। मिलान जारी छ; सम्पर्कविहीन हुनु मृत्यु पुष्टि हुनु होइन।
खोज तथा उद्धार
11,993 उद्धार — NDRRMA, 2 सेप्टेम्बर 2026, 18:00 NPT। 21,314 सुरक्षाकर्मी र 301 घाइते; प्रधानमन्त्रीको सोही दिनको अघिल्लो विवरणमा 182 जना डिस्चार्ज। जलविद्युत् स्थलमा करिब 900 व्यक्ति सम्पर्कविहीन रिपोर्ट गरिएका छन्। NESRA जीवितको अनुमान प्रकाशित गर्दैन।
आवागमन
पृथ्वी राजमार्ग कृष्णभीर (धादिङ) मा पूर्ण अवरुद्ध छ। अधिकारीका अनुसार करिब 70 मिटर सडक त्रिशूलीमा खसेको र अर्को 120 मिटर चर्किएको छ; निर्देशित वैकल्पिक मार्ग प्रयोगमा छन्। सेप्टेम्बरभित्र खोल्ने लक्ष्य हालको passability होइन। मुख्य बेत्रावती–रसुवागढी मार्ग गम्भीर अवरुद्ध छ।
अत्यावश्यक सेवा (विद्युत्/दूरसञ्चार)
NEA ले कालिका, नौकुण्ड, धुन्चे, भर्खु र गोसाइँकुण्डका धेरै क्षेत्रमा विद्युत् पुनर्स्थापना गरेको; बाँकीमा मर्मत जारी। दूरसञ्चार: 198 मध्ये 145 tower (29 Aug) र सात प्रमुख BTS site (30 Aug) — पूर्ण coverage होइन।
पृथ्वी अवलोकन

NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 अपरिवर्तित छ। Exposure प्रमाणित क्षति होइन। Charter मा 21 उत्पादन, Copernicus EMSR927 मा 6 AOI / 8 product record, Sentinel Asia मा PlanetScope, Sentinel-1 र ALOS-2 उत्पादन, तथा UNESCO IHP-WINS मा Syapru Besi/Timure damage-grading dataset सूचीबद्ध छन्। बाह्य उत्पादन NESRA निष्कर्ष होइनन्।

EO ड्यासबोर्ड ↗

स्थिति संक्षेप र अभिलेख
पछिल्लो: Situation Brief #07। English PDF · नेपाली संक्षेप #07। Briefs #01–#07 अपरिवर्तनीय अभिलेखमा सुरक्षित छन्।
साझेदारी
NESRA — स्वामी/सञ्चालक/प्रकाशक। Anamol Mittal — FloodWatch Programme Lead। Michael Hylind — NESRA Earth Observation Lead। IIC — प्रविधि साझेदार। YIL — रसुवा 2026 ड्रोन योगदानकर्ता।

आधिकारिक चेतावनीका लागि DHM, NDRRMA तथा सम्बन्धित सरकारी निकायका सूचना पालना गर्नुहोस्।

Latest official impact — Nepal scope. NDRRMA () reports 1,204 bodies and human remains recovered, approximately 4,216 people unaccounted for and 11,993 rescued; 301 injured and 21,314 security personnel deployed. Only 95 recovered remains had been identified and returned to families in this update. Recovered bodies/human remains are provisional and are not equated with a final confirmed death toll. Unaccounted does not mean confirmed dead; reconciliation continues.
Current response and recovery context

Hydropower-site search: NDRRMA reported approximately 900 people unaccounted for at hydropower sites at 18:00 NPT on 2 September. Earlier 31 August reporting described search activity across 11 projects and the Rasuwagadhi tunnel search; that project-level detail is retained as historical operational context and is not added to the newer total. NESRA does not publish survivor estimates.

National response: NDRRMA reports 21,314 security personnel deployed and 11,993 people rescued at 18:00 NPT on 2 September.

Preliminary reconstruction context: the initial USD 4–5 billion rebuilding estimate remains preliminary while detailed loss-and-damage assessment continues.

Broader humanitarian context

More than 90,000 people are estimated to be affected across the wider Nepal–Tibet disaster region, according to the IFRC via Reuters. This is broader context and is not a Rasuwa-only figure.

Cause assessment — evolving. USGS analysis determined that the seismic signal initially interpreted as an earthquake was generated by a glacial collapse and debris flow. ICIMOD and Nepal disaster-management reporting also point to an ice–rock avalanche in the upper Lhende Khola catchment. Whether temporary damming amplified the flood, and the condition of remaining upstream impoundments, continue to be assessed.

Official river monitoring

Official warnings and public-safety instructions are issued by DHM, NDRRMA and relevant authorities. NESRA links to authoritative monitoring and does not rebroadcast live water levels.

DHM Real-Time River WatchDHM Current Flood ForecastNDRRMABIPAD Portal

Emergency contacts

Use official hotlines for urgent assistance. Availability may be affected by damaged telecommunications infrastructure.

Police
100
Traffic Police
103
Tourist Police
1144
DHM flood information
1155 · press 2
Health helpline
1115
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Nationals ECR
+977-9744441227
+977-9744441228
Hotline / WhatsApp · 07:00–22:00
emergency@mofa.gov.np · official notice ↗

Hydrology and flood-wave findings

Warning dissemination
DHM reports 679,295 warning SMS messages sent through Nepal Telecom and Ncell.
Monitoring disruption
Syabrubesi and Betrawati gauges stopped transmitting; the Furke/Malekhu station and bridge were later washed away.
Devghat observation
Peak 6.57 m at 16:00 NPT, estimated flow near 5,850 m³/s.
Flood-wave travel
Approximately 168 km to Devghat; additional flood volume estimated near 19.96 million m³.

DHM technical situation report, 26 Aug 2026. It warned that an upstream blockage had not been fully released or cleared at publication time; follow current official instructions for present risk. Read the DHM report mirror ↗

Corridor map

Load interactive corridor map
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Open interactive corridor map ↗

Access & connectivity

Operational access update

Prithvi Highway: Krishnabhir remains completely blocked. Authorities reported about 70 m of road fallen into the Trishuli and another 120 m cracked; authority-directed alternatives remain in use. A government objective to restore the section within September is a target, not current reopening. Dhunche: the previously reported alternative light-vehicle route is distinct from full corridor reopening. Primary Rasuwa corridor: Betrawati–Rasuwagadhi / Timure–Syabrubesi remains severely disrupted end-to-end.

Connectivity restoration

NDRRMA reported 145 of 198 affected telecom towers restored by 29 Aug 10:00. Nepal Telecom reported seven key BTS sites restored in Rasuwa and Nuwakot on 30 Aug. These are partial-restoration indicators, not confirmation of full coverage.

Infrastructure restoration

Department of Roads reporting attributes damage to approximately 40 km of road and 41 bridges destroyed or damaged. The broader requirement of about 42 Bailey bridges differs from the immediate initiative for 10 long Bailey bridges of about 70 m; delivery or installation is not confirmed.

Physical condition (state of the road/structures) is shown separately from passability (whether an authority has established the route is open or closed). “Road severely damaged” and “road officially closed” are different claims.

Current road and corridor access status — physical condition, passability, confidence and source
Location / corridorPhysical conditionPassabilityConfidence / classificationSource provenance and notes
Alternative route to Dhunche: Kathmandu–Tokha–Chhahare–Gadkhar Bridge–Aapra–Narja–Lachyang–Sarmathali–Patikharka–Bogatitar–Kalikasthan–DhuncheTemporary/alternative district-access route; risks remain on several sectionsOPEN FOR LIGHT FOUR-WHEELED VEHICLES — travel with official cautionConfirmed
AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED
Authority: Department of Roads / Prime Minister via RSS and The Rising NepalReported: Current access table reviewed through 1 Sep 2026Reviewed: Classification: AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED · Source Notes: Alternative access to Dhunche does not mean the primary corridor is open end-to-end.
Betrawati–Rasuwagadhi road (approximately 42 km)SEVERE FLOOD DAMAGE — around 40 km of road and multiple bridges affected in the wider Rasuwa networkSEVERELY DISRUPTED — NOT OPEN END-TO-ENDConfirmed disruption
AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED
Authority: Department of Roads / Infrastructure MinistryReported: Current access table reviewed through 1 Sep 2026Reviewed: Classification: AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED · Source Notes: Latest alternative access reaches Dhunche only; this is not primary-corridor reopening.
Rasuwagadhi–TimureSevere damage reported as part of the Betrawati–Rasuwagadhi roadUNKNOWN — not authoritatively confirmedProbable
AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED
Authority: Department of Roads / District Administration via mediaReported: Current access table reviewed through 1 Sep 2026Reviewed: Classification: AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED · Source Notes: Severe physical damage is not an official open/closed determination.
Timure–SyabrubesiSevere damage reported as part of the Betrawati–Rasuwagadhi roadUNKNOWN — not authoritatively confirmedProbable
AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED
Authority: Department of Roads / local officials via mediaReported: Current access table reviewed through 1 Sep 2026Reviewed: Classification: AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED · Source Notes: Severe physical damage is not an official open/closed determination.
Syabrubesi–BetrawatiSevere damage reported as part of the Betrawati–Rasuwagadhi roadUNKNOWN — not authoritatively confirmedProbable
AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED
Authority: Department of Roads / local officials via mediaReported: Current access table reviewed through 1 Sep 2026Reviewed: Classification: AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED · Source Notes: Severe physical damage is not an official open/closed determination.
Betrawati–TrishuliImpacts reported in Betrawati/Trishuli market areasUNKNOWN — not authoritatively confirmedProbable
AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED
Authority: Local officials via The Kathmandu PostReported: Current access table reviewed through 1 Sep 2026Reviewed: Classification: AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED · Source Notes: Physical impact reporting does not establish route passability.
Trishuli–DevighatNo verified reportUNKNOWNUnverified
UNVERIFIED
Authority: No verified source yetReported: Not stated by sourceReviewed: Classification: UNVERIFIEDNotes: Unknown is not open or closed.
Baireni–Mugling / Prithvi Highway at KrishnabhirApproximately 70 m of road reported fallen into the Trishuli and another 120 m cracked at KrishnabhirBLOCKED AT KRISHNABHIR; authority-directed alternatives remain in useConfirmed
AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED
Authority: Department of Roads / traffic authoritiesReported: Reviewed: Classification: AUTHORITY_ATTRIBUTED · Source Notes: Diversions and a September reopening objective do not equal reopening of the blocked highway section or the primary Rasuwa corridor.

Verified ground updates

Current, non-graphic ground imagery from the affected corridor. Each photograph remains hosted by the publisher and links to the original visual report, with its source credit retained.

Aerial view of flood damage affecting settlements and infrastructure along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli corridor
Flood damage affecting settlements and infrastructure along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli corridor.Nepal Photo Library, via The Kathmandu Post
Security personnel inspect a flood-affected area during response operations
Security personnel inspect a flood-affected area during response operations.RSS, via The Kathmandu Post
Ground view of the affected river valley after the flood surge
Ground view of the affected river valley after the flood surge.Handout photo, via The Kathmandu Post

Published 26 August 2026. Click any image to open the original visual story. Image captions describe only what is visible or reported by the credited publisher.

Latest official NDRRMA posts

This timeline refreshes automatically when NDRRMA publishes. Browser privacy settings may block the embedded timeline; the official-source button remains available.

View NDRRMA updates ↗
Evidence status and open questions

What we know & what remains under investigation

What we know

  • NDRRMA reports 987 bodies and human remains recovered (1 Sep 2026, Tue morning); this is a recovered-remains metric, not a final confirmed death toll.
  • NDRRMA reports ~3,916 unaccounted for (revised down as reconciliation progressed) and 11,814 rescued at 1 Sep 2026; 279 injured (168 discharged) and 21,011 personnel; figures are provisional.
  • One barrier lake near the border was reported fully drained; DHM has active flood/rainfall warnings across seven downstream districts.
  • Approximately 933 workers are unaccounted for at 11 hydropower projects; the Rasuwagadhi (111 MW) tunnel was searched with no people found inside (~93 of its workers still missing).
  • Prithvi Highway remains blocked at Krishnabhir with separate diversions; the primary Rasuwa corridor remains severely disrupted.
  • Telecommunications restoration is partial: 145 of 198 affected towers by 29 Aug 10:00, and seven key Nepal Telecom BTS sites on 30 Aug.
  • NESRA EO v1 is unchanged; external mapping expanded through Copernicus and Sentinel Asia.

Under investigation

  • Missing lists: authority lists, timing and definitions remain subject to reconciliation; no sensitive names are reproduced.
  • Secondary hazard: the second crater lake and downstream flood, landslide and avalanche risks remain monitored.
  • Tunnel rescue: unconfirmed trapped-person estimates are omitted.
  • Connectivity: infrastructure restoration counts do not establish full service.
  • Infrastructure: 10-bridge and approximately 42-bridge initiatives differ; delivery remains unconfirmed.
  • Loss and damage: USD 4–5 billion is preliminary.
  • NESRA EO: v1 is cloud-limited exposure analysis; no final validated damage assessment is published.
  • YIL: underlying drone products await NESRA review.

Incident timeline

Newest reviewed developments first. Operational counts are provisional and authority-attributed.

  • EARTH_OBSERVATION Checked 3 Sep 2026, 01:22 NPT
    External emergency-mapping inventories expanded
    Charter: 21 products. Copernicus EMSR927: 6 AOIs / 8 product records. Sentinel Asia added PlanetScope, Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2 products; UNESCO IHP-WINS damage grading for Syapru Besi and Timure registered. External products are not NESRA findings; NESRA EO v1 is unchanged.
  • NDRRMA_UPDATE 2 Sep 2026, 18:00 NPT
    1,204 bodies/remains recovered; ~4,216 unaccounted; 11,993 rescued
    NDRRMA update; 301 injured, 21,314 security personnel and 3,453 people in holding centres; 95 remains identified/returned. Recovered remains are not a final confirmed death toll; provisional.
  • ACCESS 2 Sep 2026, 07:06 NPT report
    Krishnabhir remains completely blocked
    About 70 m of road reported fallen into the Trishuli and another 120 m cracked. Authority-directed alternatives are in use; a restoration target is not current reopening.
  • NDRRMA_UPDATE 1 Sep 2026, Tue morning
    987 bodies/remains recovered; ~3,916 unaccounted; 11,814 rescued
    NDRRMA update; 279 injured (168 discharged), 21,011 security personnel. Missing revised down as reconciliation progressed. Recovered remains, not a final death toll; provisional.
  • NDRRMA_UPDATE 31 Aug 2026, 09:00 NPT
    903 bodies/remains recovered; ~4,247 unaccounted; 10,451 rescued
    NDRRMA update; 267 injured (156 discharged), 20,819 personnel, 411 helicopter flights (3,344 Nepalis + 252 foreign airlifted). Recovered remains, not a final death toll; provisional.
  • HYDROPOWER 31 Aug 2026
    ~933 workers unaccounted at 11 hydropower projects; Rasuwagadhi tunnel searched
    Army-led search with Indian & Chinese specialists (controlled blasts, excavators, search lights). Rasuwagadhi (111 MW) tunnel searched to ~225 m — no people found inside; ~93 of its workers missing. Three bodies recovered from two tunnels.
  • OFFICIAL_RISK 30–31 Aug 2026
    One barrier lake reported fully drained; glacier/landslide instability under assessment
    Chinese technical statement (lake drained); DHM flood/rainfall warnings for Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi, Chitwan. Technical assessment is not an official warning.
  • POWER 31 Aug 2026
    NEA reports partial power restoration across Rasuwa
    Electricity restored across most of Kalika, Naukunda, Dhunche, Bharkhu and Gosainkunda; repairs continue. ~10% of national generation affected.
  • EARTH_OBSERVATION 31 Aug 2026
    Situation Brief #07 published; NESRA EO v1 unchanged
    Brief #07 data cutoff 31 Aug 12:00 NPT. NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 remains the latest NESRA EO product; external products (Charter 8, Copernicus EMSR927, Sentinel Asia) unchanged.
  • NEPAL_POLICE 30 Aug 2026, 15:00 NPT
    788 bodies recovered
    Separate provisional recovered-body metric, not a final confirmed death toll.
Show full incident timeline
  • NDRRMA_UPDATE 30 Aug 2026, 13:00 NPT
    2,502 unaccounted; 8,730 rescued
    Latest reviewed NDRRMA figures; nearly 20,000 personnel reported mobilised.
  • OFFICIAL_RISK 30 Aug 2026
    Renewed Bhotekoshi rise; precautions urged
    NDRRMA warning for Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan; follow DHM live guidance.
  • SEARCH_RESCUE 30 Aug 2026, 19:54 NPT report
    Specialist tunnel rescue active
    Nepali, Indian and Chinese teams assisting; entrance reached, debris clearing under way, two people pulled from mouth.
  • CONNECTIVITY 29–30 Aug 2026
    Partial telecom restoration
    145/198 towers restored; seven key Nepal Telecom BTS sites restored. Full coverage not established.
  • EARTH_OBSERVATION 30 Aug 2026 review
    External products expanded
    Copernicus: 4 AOIs / 3 products. Sentinel Asia lists Planet-based mapping and Sentinel-1 damage proxy.
  • NDRRMA_UPDATE 30 Aug 2026, 09:00 NPT
    734 bodies/human remains recovered; 2,498 unaccounted for; 8,186 rescued
    NDRRMA operational update; over 15,000 security personnel and 15 helicopters mobilised. Reported as recovered remains, not a final death toll; provisional.
  • ACCESS 30 Aug 2026, morning
    Prithvi Highway (Muglin–Kathmandu) severed at Krishnabhir
    Trishuli river erosion undermined the road base at Krishnabhir (Benighat Rorang, Dhading); travellers advised to use alternative routes.
  • EARTH_OBSERVATION 30 Aug 2026
    Charter products increased to 8; Copernicus EMSR927 products released
    Copernicus EMS reported more than 240 buildings destroyed and 32 damaged within its mapped Syapru Besi area (WorldView-3, 27 Aug 2026). Copernicus findings, not NESRA metrics.
  • NDRRMA_UPDATE 29 Aug 2026, 10:00 NPT
    626 deaths; 2,426 unaccounted for; 4,451 rescued; 15,224 personnel mobilised
    Latest reviewed NDRRMA snapshot. The unaccounted-for total includes 517 foreign nationals as a subset.
  • NEPAL_POLICE 29 Aug 2026, 06:00 NPT
    616 bodies recovered
    Separate Nepal Police recovered-body metric; not identical to the later NDRRMA death total.
  • OFFICIAL_RISK 29 Aug 2026, morning
    River levels below alert; barrier-lake monitoring continues
    One lake appeared to be draining and its burst risk had eased; a second larger lake remained under assessment.
  • SEARCH_RESCUE 29 Aug 2026, morning
    Rasuwa operations temporarily halted by rain and fog
    Chief District Officer via Reuters; no later authoritative resumption identified in this review.
  • TECHNICAL_ASSISTANCE 29 Aug 2026
    Specialised international technical assistance requested
    Priority areas include tunnels, transport, communications, victim identification, DNA testing and body storage.
  • ACCESS 29 Aug 2026
    Baireni–Mugling reopened; primary Rasuwa corridor remains severely damaged
    Department of Roads reports approximately 40 km of road and 41 bridges destroyed or damaged across the affected network.
  • NDRRMA_UPDATE 28 Aug 2026, 19:00 NPT
    579 bodies recovered; 1,924 out of contact; 4,451 rescued; 15,431 personnel mobilised
    Latest reviewed NDRRMA operational snapshot; provisional.
  • ACCESS 28 Aug 2026, evening
    Alternative light-vehicle route to Dhunche operational
    The primary Betrawati–Rasuwagadhi corridor remains severely disrupted.
  • OFFICIAL_RISK 28 Aug 2026, evening review
    Rescue resumed; two upstream barrier lakes remain under monitoring
    Immediate overflow risk eased, but secondary-hazard risk persists.
  • RESTORATION 28 Aug 2026, evening
    Formal initiatives for 10 Bailey bridges of 70 m
    Requested/planned from India and China; not confirmed delivered or deployed.
  • HISTORICAL_SNAPSHOT 28 Aug 2026, 15:00 NPT
    Earlier NDRRMA snapshot: 538 recovered, 977 out of contact, 3,742 rescued
    Retained only as historical context; superseded by the 19:00 NDRRMA update.
  • SATELLITE 27–28 Aug 2026
    NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 live; International Charter lists eight products
  • FIELD_ASSESSMENT 27 Aug 2026
    YIL reports drone field acquisition completed
    Underlying products await NESRA review.

What satellites show

ObservedNESRA mapped a flood and debris-path corridor from the available Sentinel-2 acquisition.
ExposureBuildings, roads and bridges intersect the mapped path. These intersections indicate exposure, not verified damage.
LimitationsCloud obscures part of the corridor. No visible evidence is not evidence that flooding did not occur.

NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 remains unchanged. Open the dashboard for the current interactive analysis; the detailed assessment below preserves methods, metrics, limitations and attribution.

Open NESRA EO Dashboard ↗
View technical EO assessment

Technical Earth Observation assessment

RAPID EO ASSESSMENT · v1 · LIVE

NESRA Earth Observation — Satellite Mapping · पृथ्वी अवलोकन

Interactive satellite & geospatial analysis of the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli flood corridor · अन्तरक्रियात्मक उपग्रह विश्लेषण

NESRA’s Earth Observation dashboard combines available satellite imagery and open geospatial datasets to rapidly examine the Rasuwa–Bhotekoshi–Trishuli flood corridor. This v1 rapid assessment uses one Sentinel-2 acquisition (27 August 2026, much of the valley under cloud) with open building, road and infrastructure datasets, and is updated as additional satellite acquisitions become available.

NESRA को पृथ्वी अवलोकन ड्यासबोर्डले उपलब्ध उपग्रह तस्बिर र खुला भू-स्थानिक तथ्याङ्क प्रयोग गरी बाढी क्षेत्रको द्रुत विश्लेषण गर्दछ। यो v1 मूल्याङ्कन एउटै Sentinel-2 तस्बिर (२७ अगस्ट २०२६, धेरै भाग बादलले ढाकिएको) मा आधारित छ।

Satellite · उपग्रह: Sentinel-2Post-event · घटनापछि: Pre-event · घटनाअघि: 12 Aug 2026Scope: Rasuwagadhi → DhadingbesiMethod: flood-path mapping + open-data intersection
Data limitation · बादलले ढाकिएको क्षेत्र. Parts of the valley are obscured by cloud in the available 27 August Sentinel-2 acquisition; about 4.1 km of river stays under solid cloud. Areas under cloud must NOT be interpreted as unaffected — “no evidence” is not “no flooding”. Treat the mapped extent as an upper bound. · बादलमुनिको क्षेत्रलाई प्रभावित नभएको भनी बुझ्नु हुँदैन।
Exposure, not verified damage · जोखिम, प्रमाणित क्षति होइन. These are geospatial-intersection results (assets touching the mapped flood/debris path), not confirmed structural damage. Verified damage requires field or official inspection. Status hierarchy: mapped flood/debris path → asset exposure → potential impact → field/officially verified damage.
NESRA EO RAPID ASSESSMENT — metrics (Sentinel-2, 27 Aug 2026; Rasuwagadhi → Dhadingbesi)
101.6 kmRiver assessed (92 km measured; 4.1 km under cloud)
3,216Buildings intersecting mapped flood/debris path · भवनहरू
11.5 kmMajor road intersecting mapped flood path · सडक
62Bridges intersecting flood path — condition not assessed · पुलहरू
Load interactive EO map
Open full-screen dashboard ↗ · Trouble displaying imagery on some GPUs/browsers? The full-screen dashboard is more reliable.
Earth Observation analysis led by Michael Hylind, NESRA Earth Observation. Imagery: Copernicus Sentinel-2. Basemap: Esri, HERE, Garmin, OpenStreetMap contributors. EO imagery date: · Rapid EO Assessment v1 — this is the EO data timestamp, separate from the FloodWatch page update time.
NESRA EO products are rapid analytical products intended to support situational awareness. They do not replace official warnings, engineering inspections, field verification or government damage assessments. · NESRA का पृथ्वी अवलोकन उत्पादनहरू अवस्थाबारे छिटो जानकारी उपलब्ध गराउन तयार गरिएका विश्लेषणात्मक सामग्री हुन्। यिनले आधिकारिक चेतावनी, प्राविधिक निरीक्षण, स्थल प्रमाणीकरण वा सरकारी क्षति मूल्याङ्कनलाई प्रतिस्थापन गर्दैनन्।

External & complementary EO products

International Charter / Sentinel Asia
Charter activation 1052 lists 21 products. Sentinel Asia lists additional PlanetScope, Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2 products. External products are not NESRA findings.
21 Charter products · Sentinel Asia expanded
Copernicus EMSR927
Ongoing with 6 areas of interest and 8 product records, including delivered, monitoring and waiting records. Findings apply only within mapped AOIs and are not comparable with NESRA exposure metrics.
Ongoing · 6 AOIs · 8 product records
PlanetScope
Nine post-event scenes at about 3.8 m GSD. Cloud cover is 62–93%.
Available, cloud-limited
UNESCO IHP-WINS / Copernicus
Damage grading — Syapru Besi and Timure ↗. External mapped-area product; not a NESRA finding.
External technical dataset
SkySat
Two approximately 0.8 m focal collections from 27 August over Rasuwagadhi and Syabrubesi; about 50% cloud.
Focal imagery
Sentinel-1
Pre-event baseline from 24 August. A validated NESRA post-event radar product has not been published.
Monitoring / pending
NESRA EO output
NESRA Rapid EO Assessment v1 is live. It is a rapid, cloud-limited Sentinel-2 flood/debris-path and exposure assessment. No validated final NESRA flood extent or damage assessment has yet been published.
Rapid v1 live · validation ongoing

External emergency-mapping products do not automatically become NESRA findings. Planet pre-event surface reflectance and post-event top-of-atmosphere radiance are not safe for direct band differencing without appropriate correction.

Preliminary · source-attributed

YIL drone field assessment

Youth Innovation Lab reports drone acquisition completed across key parts of the Rasuwa corridor. Post-processing is underway. NESRA has not yet reviewed the underlying imagery, orthomosaics or final geospatial products.

Rasuwagadhi / Nepal–China border

Extensive damage reported around border, immigration and market areas.

Upper Timure

Severe settlement and infrastructure damage reported, particularly near the river corridor.

Lower Timure

Severe settlement and infrastructure impacts reported.

Syabrubesi

Severe impacts below the Nepal Army camp, with substantial debris deposition in some locations.

Betrawati

Riverbank-related damage reported.

Mailung

Damage reported along the exposed river corridor.

Indrawati

Riverbank-area impacts reported.

Trishuli Bazaar

Partial impacts reported along sections of both riverbanks.

Coverage context: YIL also reports operations toward Dhunche. No separate Dhunche damage finding is stated here. Highway physical condition is severe in multiple sections; passability is not authoritatively confirmed.

Expected products: georeferenced orthomosaics, settlement-level damage maps, infrastructure assessment, river/debris analysis and before/after comparison where suitable baselines exist. NESRA awaits the underlying data and final products.

Field priority needs

  • Re-establish communications with affected and isolated communities.
  • Establish temporary shelters at strategic locations.
  • Establish temporary health camps near affected communities.
  • Maintain distributed food and safe-drinking-water provision.
  • Improve inter-agency and field coordination through shared situational information.

Reported by YIL; not official government directives. Coordinate emergency response with NDRRMA and local authorities.

Rasuwa 2026 contributor

Youth Innovation Lab (YIL)

Drone Field Assessment Contributor — Rasuwa 2026

YIL’s findings remain a preliminary, source-attributed field assessment. NESRA has not reviewed the underlying imagery, orthomosaics or final geospatial products.

Official information & public safety

For warnings and emergency instructions, follow these authorities:

NDRRMABIPAD PortalDHMNepal Police

External mapping & response resources

International Charter
Activation 1052 ↗
Twenty-one Charter products listed, including Rasuwa and Nuwakot pre/post and mudflow/rockflow mapping.
Sentinel Asia
Nepal flood activation ↗
DHM requester; PlanetScope, Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2 value-added products listed.
Planet Crisis Response
PlanetScope and SkySat catalog ↗
Direct imagery and STAC metadata.
Copernicus EMSR927
Rapid Mapping activation ↗
Ongoing; products may evolve.
UNESCO IHP-WINS / Copernicus
Syapru Besi and Timure damage grading ↗
External technical dataset; not a NESRA finding.
Health response
WHO Nepal statement ↗
Emergency medical supplies and tents.
Independent bulletin
Rasuwa flood bulletin ↗
Verify operations with originating authorities.

External links improve access to information but do not imply endorsement of every claim or classification.

Situation briefs & response data

LATEST

Situation Brief #08 — Standby Transition

Final scheduled snapshot · cutoff . Standby does not mean incident closure.

Previous briefs — #01–#07
NDRRMA Rescue / Missing Registry ↗

The NDRRMA registry is linked for authoritative lookup; FloodWatch does not reproduce personal names.

Using FloodWatch operationally?

Government agencies, emergency responders, humanitarian organisations, researchers and infrastructure operators may contact NESRA regarding data interpretation, EO products, corrections or relevant information exchange. FloodWatch does not provide a 24/7 emergency-response service.

Full Source Register

Sources used for this incident

Programme partnership

A NESRA initiative
Nepalese Space Research Association owns, operates and publishes FloodWatch and remains its scientific and geospatial lead.

FloodWatch Programme Lead — Anamol Mittal
Founder & President, NESRA · programme leadership, coordination and publication oversight.

NESRA Earth Observation Lead — Michael Hylind
Earth Observation analysis and technical leadership.

Technology & Innovation Partner — Infinity Innovation Center (IIC)
IIC provides technology, digital infrastructure, innovation and implementation support to the wider NESRA FloodWatch initiative.

Programme partners and supporters do not influence NESRA’s source selection, scientific analysis, confidence classification or publication decisions.

Help sustain NESRA FloodWatch

Support NESRA’s public-interest Earth Observation processing, geospatial analysis, verification, mapping infrastructure and future disaster-response readiness. This is not a disaster-relief or victim-assistance appeal.

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Financial or in-kind support does not influence NESRA’s analysis, source selection, confidence classification, scientific review or publication decisions.

NESRA — Nepalese Space Research Association. FloodWatch provides Earth Observation and geospatial situational analysis. For official warnings, route decisions and emergency instructions, follow NDRRMA, DHM and relevant government authorities. Impact figures are provisional and attributed to their originating sources. Reference map © OpenStreetMap contributors.