Nepal rejects foreign rescue teams as flood death toll climbs to 469

New Delhi: Nepal has rejected offers from other countries to deploy search-and-rescue teams after devastating floods swept through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems, choosing instead to rely on its own security forces to lead the rescue operation. The decision comes as the death toll has climbed to 469, hundreds remain missing and Kathmandu seeks international financial and humanitarian assistance for the mounting disaster.

India, China, United States, UK, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh had approached Nepal with offers to send rescue teams, but the government turned down the proposals after consultations with the Nepali Army and Nepal Police, The Kathmandu Post reported, citing a senior Nepali foreign ministry official.

According to reports, Nepal’s decision was influenced by its earlier experience during the 2015 earthquake, when the arrival of numerous foreign rescue teams created difficulties in coordinating and managing relief operations. Kathmandu has therefore decided that domestic security agencies are capable of handling the situation, while foreign governments can continue to contribute through other forms of assistance.

Nepal’s foreign ministry has also established an emergency response team to coordinate information, search-and-rescue assistance and consular support for foreign nationals affected by the floods.

Global assistance pours into flood-hit Nepal

India has delivered 47.5 tonnes of humanitarian assistance, including medicines and food supplies, in two consignments. New Delhi has also offered Bailey bridges and prefabricated truss bridges to help restore connectivity in areas where floods have destroyed or damaged roads and bridges.

China has deployed military, armed police, border inspection and firefighting personnel to carry out rescue operations on the Chinese side of the border after the mudslide hit Gyirong Port in Xizang. For Nepal, Beijing has said it is coordinating closely with Kathmandu and is ready to provide emergency assistance based on Nepal’s needs. Separately, for the disaster response inside Xizang, China have allocated 120 million yuan ($17.7 million) in central natural-disaster relief funds, while the National Development and Reform Commission has allocated 100 million yuan in central-budget investment for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction in Gyirong County, according to CGTN.

South Korea has pledged $1 million in humanitarian assistance through international organizations for Nepal’s emergency response and early recovery, while also deploying a rapid-response team to assist its nationals affected by the disaster, Reuters reported.

The UK has announced £5 million in humanitarian assistance and additional emergency-response support, while the US has committed $500,000 in emergency assistance and offered a disaster-response adviser to support Nepal’s relief efforts.

Australia has announced a $5 million humanitarian package covering food, emergency shelter, clean water, sanitation and medical assistance, and is sending humanitarian response specialists to Nepal. The UAE has also allocated $10 million for urgent humanitarian assistance, including food and shelter.

The World Bank has indicated that it could provide emergency assistance of up to NPR 25 billion ($163.55 million), Reuters reported. The Asian Development Bank has also offered continued support for disaster preparedness, early-warning systems and resilient infrastructure.

Separately, The UN has released $2.5 million in emergency funding and deployed assessment and coordination teams to support Nepal’s government-led response, while UNICEF said it is scaling up health, nutrition, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), education and child-protection assistance after at least 17,000 children were affected by the floods. WHO has also dispatched emergency medical supplies, including medicines and multipurpose tents, to affected communities.

The European Union has activated its Copernicus satellite-mapping service for Nepal and said it is ready to mobilize further assistance, as RNA Media had reported earlier. Bangladesh has expressed solidarity with Nepal and said it stands ready to assist in relief and rescue efforts, according to the Dhaka Tribune. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, has announced $1 million in humanitarian assistance for Nepal.

Death toll rises to 469, hundreds still missing

The international response comes as Nepal confronts the full scale of destruction caused by the floods. According to reports, the death toll has risen to 469, while hundreds of people remain unaccounted for as security forces continue search operations along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems and downstream areas.

Foreign nationals have also been caught up in the disaster. Nepal’s foreign ministry, said in its Thursday update that 596 foreign nationals from 33 countries remained missing, including Indians, Chinese, Ukrainians, Americans, Malaysians, Canada and Australians.

Nepali security forces are conducting ground and aerial operations in the worst-hit areas, but damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure have made access to several locations difficult. Authorities are also monitoring the possibility of further flooding caused by water accumulating behind debris blockages upstream.

63 Indian workers rescued from Trishuli I project

India has separately released an update on its nationals rescued from the flood-hit areas. The foreign ministry spokesman, Randhir Jaiswal, shared on X a list of 63 Indian nationals working at the Trishuli I project in Nepal who have been rescued. The release of the names is part of the government’s efforts to establish the whereabouts of Indians affected by the disaster.

The MEA had earlier said that 63 Trishuli I workers and 21 Indians from Tamil Nadu had been rescued, while efforts were continuing to establish contact with other Indian nationals affected by the floods.

With Nepal keeping foreign rescue teams out of its territory but accepting international aid, the immediate priority remains locating missing people, reaching isolated communities and restoring vital infrastructure. The country is also preparing to seek greater international support as the operation moves from emergency rescue towards relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.