How the floods unfolded
Heavy monsoon rains triggered a sudden wall of water that raced down river valleys near the Nepal-Tibet border. Scientists say a glacier collapse helped feed the flash flood, sending debris and water at least 62 miles downriver. Entire villages were swept away in minutes, and many residents had no time to reach higher ground. The flood struck hardest in remote districts where roads are narrow and bridges are few.
Officials have confirmed at least 540 deaths, and they warn the number could rise. Hundreds of people remain missing, including trekkers, farmers, and families who lived along the riverbanks. Communication lines are still down in several valleys, making it hard to count the full scale of the damage.
Rescue efforts and trapped workers
Rescue teams are working around the clock. Helicopters are airlifting survivors from rooftops and hillsides, while ground crews dig through mud and rubble by hand. One of the most urgent operations is at a hydropower tunnel where hundreds of workers are believed to be trapped. Nepal says it is intensifying efforts to reach them, but heavy equipment is struggling to get through landslide-blocked roads.
International aid groups, including the World Central Kitchen, have begun delivering food and water to displaced families. Hospitals in nearby towns are treating the injured, and many survivors are sleeping in temporary shelters.
Questions over hydropower projects
The disaster has renewed debate about Nepal's push to build hydropower dams in fragile mountain valleys. The country sees clean energy as a path to growth, but critics say the projects carry serious risks in a region already prone to landslides and floods. The loss of power-generating capacity from damaged plants has also raised concerns about energy supply. For now, the focus remains on finding survivors, but the flood will likely reshape how Nepal plans its mountain infrastructure.