- The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu issued a Natural Disaster Alert on August 26, 2026 after flash floods hit Rasuwa District.
- Travelers were told to avoid the Prithvi Highway and two other roads, while authorities ordered evacuations in the flood zone.
- The death toll reached at least 157, with over 750 missing and India sending 10 tonnes of aid.
The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu issued a Natural Disaster Alert on August 26, 2026 after flash floods hit Rasuwa District and nearby areas, while the Embassy of India in Kathmandu opened emergency helplines for stranded nationals in Nepal. People were told to move away from riverbanks and seek higher ground. The notice also told them not to enter flood-affected areas.
Three roads were named. The alert told citizens to avoid the Prithvi Highway, the Galchhi–Nuwakot–Rasuwa–Syafrubesi road and the Mugling–Narayangadh road. Authorities also ordered evacuations and travel restrictions in the flood zone.
Text messages became the fallback. The U.S. notice told citizens in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan and Tanahun to stay away from riverbanks and low-lying areas, and said communications were disrupted in affected areas, so people should contact family, hotels, guides or tour companies by text or messaging apps if phone service failed.
The embassy asked for four details. It said it was “working to account for U.S. citizens who may have been affected by the Rasuwa flooding” and told affected people to email [email protected] with their full name, current location, status and tour or trekking company. It also listed +977-1-423-4000 for urgent assistance, along with U.S. State Department emergency numbers 888-407-4747 and 202-501-4444.
India posted two numbers. The Embassy of India in Kathmandu listed +977 985 131 6807 and +977 970 910 7500 for Indian nationals affected by the Nepal floods, and a separate notice said both could also be reached through WhatsApp. The mission said it was closely coordinating with the Government of Nepal for the early rescue and relief of Indian nationals affected by the flash floods.
The main contacts were these:
| Agency | Contact | Use |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu | [email protected], +977-1-423-4000 | Urgent help for Americans affected by the flooding |
| U.S. State Department | 888-407-4747, 202-501-4444 | Emergency support for U.S. citizens |
| Embassy of India in Kathmandu | +977 985 131 6807, +977 970 910 7500 | Emergency helplines for Indian nationals; both numbers were also reported on WhatsApp |
| Nepal Police | 100 | Local police emergency contact |
| Government disaster and rescue hotline | 1234 | Disaster and rescue line in Nepal |
| Armed Police Force | 1114 | Security and rescue contact in Nepal |
| Nepal Tourism Board | 1234, 1144, 9851289445 | Tourist assistance lines reported for people needing help |
The flood spread through the Bhote Koshi border belt
The flood was tied to the Bhote Koshi River and the border area around Rasuwa in northern Nepal. The toll kept rising. Live reporting on August 26, 2026 put the death count at at least 157 and the missing at over 750.
A separate contemporaneous report said 105 Indians were missing. That figure was not the official count.
Aid shipments followed. India also sent 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance and essential medicines to support Nepal’s response. Its separate Tibet-border advisory gave contact points for local Chinese officials and the Indian missions in Beijing and Kathmandu, all on August 26, 2026.
