The death toll from the catastrophic Himalayan glacial floods in Nepal has risen to 1,204, while nearly 4,500 people remain unaccounted for as rescue and relief operations continue across the country. Authorities and emergency teams are working to reach affected areas, with difficult terrain, mud and debris slowing efforts to locate missing people and restore access to isolated communities.

Rescue teams are also searching for around 100 hydropower workers believed to be trapped inside tunnels buried under mud and debris. Hopes of finding survivors have diminished after rescue operations so far recovered only bodies from some areas. Excavation efforts have faced additional challenges because water continues to seep into rescue shafts, complicating attempts to clear the tunnels.

India has also stepped up its relief assistance, with a fifth aid flight departing for Nepal carrying an 11-member rescue team, specialised equipment and 5.5 tonnes of medical supplies. The assistance is part of India's ongoing response to the disaster as Nepal continues to deal with the scale of destruction and the urgent needs of affected communities.

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The disaster began on August 26 following a chain of events in the high Himalayas. A glacial collapse sent a massive volume of rock, ice and meltwater into downstream valleys, triggering powerful floods. The sudden surge caused rivers to rise rapidly and inundated areas across parts of Nepal and neighbouring regions.

Scientists examining satellite imagery have indicated that the collapse may have involved the failure of bedrock beneath a glacier in the Himalayan region. The resulting rockfall was powerful enough to register as a magnitude 5.2 seismic event, adding to evidence of the scale of the geological disturbance that preceded the floods.

The surge of water and debris subsequently entered rivers flowing through valleys in Tibet and Nepal, carrying mud and rocks downstream. Homes, buildings, roads and bridges were swept away or damaged, leaving rescue teams facing extensive destruction while thousands remain missing. Search operations, medical assistance and relief work are continuing as authorities assess the full impact of the disaster.

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