By The South Asia Times 

KATHMANDU — The death toll from devastating floods along Nepal’s Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers has risen to 734, while 2,498 people remain unaccounted for, according to the latest government figures reported by The Kathmandu Post on Sunday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said 734 bodies and human remains had been recovered from several flood-hit districts in its latest search, rescue and relief update issued at 9 a.m. Sunday.

The disaster has spread its deadly impact far beyond the areas where the flooding began, with many victims reportedly carried hundreds of kilometres downstream by powerful floodwaters and debris.

Chitwan recorded the highest number of recovered bodies at 259, followed by Nawalparasi East with 184 and Nawalparasi West with 82. Gorkha reported 58 deaths, Nuwakot 52, Dhading 50, Tanahun 36 and Rasuwa 13.

The number of people still missing is particularly high in Rasuwa, where authorities have listed 562 people as unaccounted for. Nuwakot has reported 115 missing people and Makawanpur 65.

The missing include 933 people associated with a hydropower project, 589 foreign nationals and 127 Nepalis travelling with them, according to government figures. A total of 85 security personnel are also missing, including 45 members of the Nepali Army, 27 police officers and 13 personnel from the Armed Police Force.

At least 242 people have been injured, including people still receiving medical treatment and those who have already been discharged from hospitals.

The scale of the disaster has triggered a major search and rescue operation involving almost 20,000 security personnel. The government said 19,895 personnel from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been deployed across the affected areas.

Security forces have so far rescued 8,186 people, while helicopters have played a central role in reaching communities and people trapped by floodwaters and damaged infrastructure.

Among the most challenging rescue operations was the evacuation of 279 people trapped inside a hydropower tunnel, which was carried out over two days. Helicopters also rescued 227 foreign nationals, according to the government.

Authorities are now facing a major challenge in identifying the large number of recovered victims.

Unidentified bodies have been transferred to 21 hospitals in different districts for preservation and identification as authorities work to establish the identities of those killed in the disaster.

The government has also begun distributing emergency assistance to affected communities.

Rasuwa and Nuwakot have each received 100 million Nepalese rupees in cash assistance, while Dhading has received 50 million rupees. Another 675 million rupees has been distributed among 15 local government units.

Emergency supplies are also being transported to flood-hit areas. The government has dispatched 37 trucks carrying food and non-food items and conducted seven helicopter flights for relief deliveries.

On Saturday, two tonnes of food were airlifted to Uttargaya and Dhunche as authorities sought to reach communities affected by damaged roads and difficult terrain.

The government is also maintaining fuel reserves to support rescue teams and heavy equipment operations in Nuwakot, with 36,000 litres of diesel and 24,000 litres of petrol in storage.

The scale of the aerial rescue effort has also placed significant demands on aviation fuel supplies. Authorities said around 25,000 litres of aviation fuel had been consumed during rescue operations, with another 14,000 litres remaining.

The disaster began with severe flooding in northern Nepal and subsequently affected communities along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems.

With thousands of people still unaccounted for and search teams continuing to operate across multiple districts, authorities have warned that the death toll could rise further as rescuers reach previously inaccessible areas and identify additional victims.

The disaster has also left authorities facing the difficult task of restoring roads, infrastructure and essential services while continuing the search for missing people.

The latest figures underscore the extraordinary scale of the catastrophe, with 734 confirmed recovered dead and nearly 2,500 people still unaccounted for only days after the floods struck.