Nepal revises reconstruction cost to $4.78 billion; India to supply 654 MW to replace flood-damaged hydropower
Foreign ministry lowers earlier $7 billion estimate while India steps in to meet electricity demand after at least 12 hydropower projects were destroyed.
Quick summary
Nepal's foreign ministry now estimates reconstruction after the August 26 floods will cost approximately $4.78 billion, down from an earlier $7 billion figure, with $57.67 million needed for short-term recovery over the next six months. India has approved exports of up to 654 MW of electricity to Nepal after the disaster severely damaged hydropower infrastructure and knocked out hundreds of megawatts of generation capacity. At least 1,388 people have died across Nepal as of Sunday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, with more than 5,130 missing in Nepal and 43 dead and 519 missing in Tibet. Rescue teams continue to search for six trapped workers in a flooded tunnel complex at the Trishuli hydropower site, while India has handed over the first components of a 70-meter Bailey bridge to restore connectivity in flood-hit areas where dozens of bridges were washed away.
Key points
- Nepal's foreign ministry revised the reconstruction cost estimate from $7 billion to $4.78 billion, including $57.67 million for short-term recovery over six months and $4.71 billion for longer-term rebuilding.
- India approved electricity exports of up to 654 MW to help Nepal meet demand after the floods damaged at least 12 hydropower projects and knocked out hundreds of megawatts of generation capacity.
- The death toll in Nepal has risen to at least 1,388, with more than 5,130 people still missing; the combined toll across Nepal and Tibet stands at more than 1,428 dead and 5,649 missing.
- Rescue teams are working to reach six trapped workers in a flooded tunnel at the Trishuli hydropower site, where hopes persist that pockets of air may have allowed some to survive.
- India has handed over the first components of a 70-meter Bailey bridge to restore connectivity in areas where dozens of bridges were washed away, helping facilitate relief and reconstruction operations.
How it unfolded
- New
Flood begins
A glacier collapse and ice-rock avalanche trigger a major surge through the Bhotekoshi river system.
- New
Infrastructure hit
Roads, hydropower plants and transmission facilities suffer major damage.
- ChangedContested
Reported casualty numbers rise sharply
Figures moved from 8 to more than 350 within 24 hours as information reached authorities from areas cut off by communication outages.
- Changed
Cause clarified
Reporting identifies a glacial flood mechanism, and early seismic signals are attributed to the landslide rather than a tectonic earthquake.
- New
More than 1,300 people reported missing
The scale of the missing-person count prompts international rescue efforts.
- New
Warning of a second flood
Authorities warn that a landslide-created lake combined with further rainfall could produce a secondary disaster.
- New
Rescue race
Reports that 933 hydropower workers are missing shift international attention toward the flooded tunnels.
- New
Search continues
Rescuers drill into hydropower tunnels as hopes of finding survivors become a central focus of coverage.
- ChangedContested
Reported missing count rises to 4,793
Up from roughly 1,300 five days earlier.
- New
Close to 300 workers rescued from tunnels
Rescue teams from China, India and Nepal use excavators and temporary bridges to reach trapped workers.
- New
Electricity restored
Power has been restored nearly a week after the floods.
- New
Death toll crosses 1,000
The Associated Press reports more than 1,000 deaths across Nepal and China.
- New
Official says trapped workers may be alive
A Nepal Electricity Authority official states there is a high chance workers trapped in Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant chambers have survived.
- New
U.S. rescue teams join effort
Specialized rescue teams from the United States are now involved alongside Chinese, Indian and Nepali crews.
- New
Economic toll quantified
Mongabay reports 281 MW of installed capacity wiped out or badly damaged, 388 MW under construction damaged, with losses estimated in the hundreds of billions of Nepali rupees.
- New
Death toll surpasses 1,200
Multiple outlets report the death toll has exceeded 1,200, making this Nepal's deadliest natural disaster since the 2015 earthquake.
- Changed
Authorities 'very confident' 46 workers may be alive
Nepal Electricity Authority officials say they are 'very confident' about 46 workers trapped in an underground room at Rasuwagadhi have access to food and water, refining earlier statements about trapped workers' chances of survival.
- New
Rescuers advance 250 meters into Rasuwagadhi tunnel
Teams have progressed 250 meters into a tunnel at Rasuwagadhi before encountering a blockage, continuing efforts to reach the underground chamber.
- New
At least eight workers may be trapped at Chilime project
Nepal's Independent Power Producers' Association reports at least eight people may be trapped at the Chilime hydropower project.
- New
Two workers rescued alive from tunnel
Described as a "miracle" rescue nine days after the flood began.
- New
Death toll rises to 1,294 in Nepal
Nepal's disaster agency reports 1,294 bodies recovered and 5,053 people missing as of Sept. 5.
- New
Overall death toll crosses 1,290
Multiple outlets report more than 1,290 or 1,300 dead across Nepal and China combined.
- Changed
Rasuwagadhi reports 93 workers missing
Company secretary says 93 people are unaccounted for; searches of the powerhouse found no one inside, and the company now estimates between four and 14 may have been trapped inside the powerhouse.
- New
Nepal Electricity Authority confirms 431 MW knocked out
Six major hydropower and transmission facilities were damaged, including Rasuwagadhi, Chilime and Trishuli 3A.
- New
Search for Rasuwagadhi workers expands beyond powerhouse
Searches extended to nearby forests and difficult mountain terrain after no one was found inside the powerhouse.
- Changed
Death toll rises to 1,357 in Nepal
Nepal's disaster authority updates the count from 1,294 on Sept. 5 to 1,357 bodies recovered as of Sept. 8, with 5,326 missing.
- New
China reports 43 deaths and 519 missing
China's official tally brings the combined death toll across both countries to at least 1,400 with more than 5,800 missing.
- New
Army estimates 121 workers trapped in hydropower tunnels
The Nepali Army provides a specific estimate of people trapped inside tunnels at various hydropower projects in Rasuwa.
- New
Four rescued alive in last five days
Including a Chinese national rescued from an audit tunnel at Upper Trishuli 1 on Saturday and a 64-year-old woman from Betrawati.
- New
Public anger mounts over search delays
Families and local communities express concern about the pace and prioritization of tunnel rescue operations.
- Changed
Death toll rises to 1,367 in Nepal
Nepal's disaster authority updates the count from 1,357 on Sept. 8 to 1,367 bodies recovered as of Sept. 9.
- New
Army identifies three tunnel focus sites
Nepal Army confirms search operations are concentrated on the Trishuli 3A, 3B and Chilime hydropower project tunnels.
- Changed
Combined death toll reaches 1,410
Multiple outlets report at least 1,410 deaths across Nepal and China, up from 1,400.
- New
Nepal deploys drones for flood relief
Authorities begin using drones to deliver medicines and supplies to communities cut off by landslide damage.
- New
5.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Nepal
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake jolted Nepal amid ongoing flood rescue operations.
- Changed
Missing count revised to 5,651
Up from 5,326 in Nepal and 519 in China reported on Sept. 8.
- New
Fresh air detected in tunnel searches
Rescuers find fresh air during operations at submerged hydropower plant tunnels, raising hopes for trapped workers.
- New
Nepal uses cargo drones for food delivery
For the first time in an emergency operation in Nepal, cargo drones deliver food to communities cut off by landslides.
- New
India sends new relief consignment
India delivers tents, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, medicines and rescue equipment to flood-hit Nepal.
- New
Damage assessment quantifies energy losses
Rapid assessment shows 13 hydropower projects and five solar plants totaling 783 MW severely damaged across Rasuwa and Nuwakot, with Rs 390.623 billion required for full grid restoration.
- New
917 workers and employees remain missing
Rescue teams are still searching for 917 missing workers and employees nearly two weeks after the disaster.
- Changed
Nepal death toll rises to 1,385
Nepal's disaster agency updates the count from 1,367 on Sept. 9 to 1,385 bodies recovered as of Thursday.
- Changed
Combined death toll reaches 1,428
Multiple outlets report at least 1,428 deaths across Nepal and China, up from 1,410.
- New
Nepal estimates $7 billion reconstruction cost
Authorities project nearly $7 billion will be needed to rebuild after the floods, with at least 12 hydropower projects engulfed in mud and debris and entire villages wiped out.
- New
Cool air pocket detected at Trishuli tunnel
Rescuers searching the underground Trishuli hydropower facility detect a pocket of cool, fresh air toward the top of the five-floor tunnel complex, raising faint hopes for six workers still unaccounted for at the site.
- New
China donates four cargo drones to Nepal
Nepal Army receives four DJI FlyCart 100 cargo drones donated by China to fly food to stranded survivors and recover bodies from areas difficult to access.
- New
Drones conduct 10-16 relief missions daily
The cargo drones have been conducting about 10 to 16 relief runs per day, transporting more than 1,500 kilograms of food and also being used for reconnaissance in flood-hit zones.
- New
Proton donates drones worth RM200,000
Malaysian automaker Proton donates drones worth nearly RM200,000 to support disaster assessment and response efforts.
- Changed
Nepal revises reconstruction cost to $4.78 billion
Foreign ministry lowers earlier estimate from nearly $7 billion, breaking down the new figure into $57.67 million for short-term recovery over six months and about $4.71 billion for longer-term rebuilding.
- Changed
Nepal death toll rises to 1,388
Multiple outlets report Nepal's disaster authority has confirmed at least 1,388 deaths, up from 1,385 on Sept. 12.
- New
India approves 654 MW power export to Nepal
India steps in to supply electricity after floods severely damaged Nepal's hydropower infrastructure and knocked out hundreds of megawatts of generation capacity.
- New
India hands over Bailey bridge components
India delivers first components of a 70-meter Bailey bridge to restore connectivity in flood-hit areas where dozens of bridges were washed away.
- New
At least 40 workers missing at Trishuli-3A
Analysis reports at least 40 workers remain unaccounted for at the Trishuli-3A project alone, adding granular detail to earlier estimates of around 900 missing hydropower workers.
Claim tracker
30 confirmed
- Confirmed
At least 1,428 people have died across Nepal and China as of September 12, 2026.
Multiple outlets continue to report at least 1,428 deaths across both countries, with Nepal at 1,388 and China at 43.
- Confirmed
Nepal's disaster agency reported 1,385 bodies recovered as of Thursday, September 12.
This figure has been updated to 1,388 as of Sunday, September 14.
- Confirmed
Around 5,130 people remain missing in Nepal as of Thursday.
Multiple outlets continue to report more than 5,130 missing in Nepal.
- Confirmed
China has reported 43 deaths and 519 missing in Tibet.
- Confirmed
More than 5,649 people remain missing across Nepal and China combined.
- Confirmed
Nepal estimates reconstruction will cost nearly $7 billion.
Nepal's foreign ministry has now revised this estimate downward to $4.78 billion, but the earlier $7 billion figure was indeed reported.
- Confirmed
At least 12 hydropower projects were engulfed in mud and debris.
- Confirmed
Around 900 power station workers remain missing.
- Confirmed
Rescuers detected a pocket of cool, fresh air toward the top of the five-floor Trishuli hydropower tunnel complex.
- Confirmed
Six workers remain unaccounted for at the Trishuli hydropower site.
Multiple outlets report rescue teams are working to reach six trapped workers at the Trishuli tunnel site.
- Confirmed
Nepal Army is using four DJI FlyCart 100 cargo drones donated by China.
- Confirmed
The cargo drones have been conducting about 10 to 16 relief runs per day.
- Confirmed
The drones have transported more than 1,500 kilograms of food.
One outlet specifies 1,591 kilograms delivered in initial deployment.
- Confirmed
Each drone mission can carry up to 60 kilograms over distances of several kilometers.
One outlet specifies three to four kilometres per flight.
- Confirmed
Malaysian automaker Proton donated drones worth nearly RM200,000 to Nepal.
- Confirmed
The flood killed at least 1,300 people along a 72-kilometer stretch of the Trishuli River.
- Confirmed
Around 800 foreigners are among the missing.
One outlet specifies 587 foreign nationals missing, while AFP and OnlineKhabar report around 800 foreigners. The discrepancy remains unresolved.
- Confirmed
Nepal's foreign ministry estimates reconstruction will cost approximately $4.78 billion.
- Confirmed
Nepal needs $57.67 million for short-term recovery over the next six months.
- Confirmed
Nepal needs about $4.71 billion for longer-term rebuilding.
- Confirmed
India has approved exports of up to 654 MW of electricity to Nepal.
- Confirmed
At least 1,388 people have died in Nepal as of September 14.
- Confirmed
At least 40 workers remain unaccounted for at the Trishuli-3A project alone.
- Confirmed
India has handed over the first components of a 70-meter Bailey bridge to Nepal.
- Confirmed
Hydropower suffered roughly $1 billion in damage, exceeding losses from the 2015 earthquake.
- Confirmed
13,676 people have been rescued.
- Confirmed
The Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment estimates Rs 723.32 billion (about USD 4.74 billion) required for reconstruction.
This figure is consistent with the foreign ministry's $4.78 billion estimate, accounting for exchange rate variation.
- Confirmed
The drones have delivered 1,591 kilograms of food in their initial deployment.
- Confirmed
The DJI FlyCart 100 drones are operated from Devighat in Nuwakot district.
- Confirmed
587 foreign tourists are among the missing.
This more specific figure appears alongside the earlier 'around 800 foreigners' claim, suggesting a narrower count.
What we still don't know
- Are the six workers at the Trishuli tunnel site where fresh air was detected still alive?
- Why did Nepal's reconstruction cost estimate drop from $7 billion to $4.78 billion—was the earlier figure preliminary, or were some damage categories removed?
- How many of the 900 missing power station workers were at specific sites beyond the 40+ at Trishuli-3A?
- What is the breakdown of the $4.78 billion reconstruction estimate between hydropower, roads, villages, and other infrastructure?
- How many bodies have been recovered using the cargo drones?
- What is China's methodology for counting missing persons, and why do Nepal and China report different figures for the disaster?
- Is the discrepancy between '587 foreign nationals' and 'around 800 foreigners' due to different counting methods or updated figures?
- How long will it take India to deliver the full 70-meter Bailey bridge, and how many more temporary bridges are needed?
- What is Nepal's current electricity shortfall, and how long will India need to supply power?
Nepal floods, August 2026
- Death toll reaches 469 as second flood warning continues
- Nepal flood death toll passes 900 as search focuses on hydropower tunnels
- Death toll surpasses 1,000 as rescue efforts continue for trapped hydropower workers
- Nearly 300 workers rescued from flooded hydropower tunnels, 639 still trapped
- Death toll exceeds 1,000 as officials say trapped workers may still be alive
- Death toll rises past 1,200 as rescuers focus on underground chamber where 46 workers may survive
- Two workers rescued alive from tunnel nine days after flood; 93 Rasuwagadhi workers now missing
- Death toll reaches 1,357 in Nepal as army estimates 121 workers remain trapped in hydropower tunnels
- Death toll reaches 1,367 in Nepal as rescue teams focus on Trishuli 3A, 3B and Chilime tunnels
- Missing count revised upward to 5,651 as fresh air detected in hydropower tunnels
- Death toll rises to at least 1,385 as rescue focus narrows to three hydropower tunnels
- Nepal death toll rises to 1,385 as U.S. commits additional $1 million for victim identification
- Death toll reaches 1,428 as Nepal estimates $7 billion reconstruction cost
- Death toll rises to 1,399; India begins 654 MW daily power supply as rescue teams near final stage at Chilime tunnel
- Search operations halted at 10 of 13 damaged hydropower projects as 868 workers remain missing
- Death toll rises to 1,410 in Nepal as missing count jumps to 6,150
- Rescuers recover 11 bodies from Upper Trishuli-1 tunnel; total dead reaches 1,414
- Death toll rises to 1,436 as hydropower tunnels yield 24 bodies in single week
Sources analysed
8 outlets in the analysed roster.
- AFP via Jiji Press — Nepal flood reconstruction bill to be $4.78 bn—foreign ministry
- Al Jazeera — India to supply Nepal electricity after floods wrecked hydropower projects
- DW (Deutsche Welle) — Nepal: Thousands still missing as flood recovery begins
- OnlineKhabar — Nepal in search of climate justice on the global stage
- The Free Press Journal — India Approves Up To 654 MW Power Export To Nepal After Floods Damage Hydropower Infrastructure
- The Kathmandu Post — Infrastructure Minister Sunil Lamsal on rebuilding after the Bhotekoshi floods
- South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) — DRP 140926: How prepared are we to face Himalayan Disaster Risks?
- The Shillong Times — Nepal floods: Teams close in on six trapped workers in tunnel