Nepal flash flood rescue efforts intensify as death toll rises

Two men were arrested in Nepal for allegedly removing gold earrings from the body of a woman whose lifeless form was found floating in floodwaters. The Nepal Police released a video showing the suspects pulling the woman from the Narayani River by her hair using a wooden plank. The men were then seen taking the earrings from her ears, with other bystanders present.

Authorities identified and arrested the two men, Madan Gurung and Umesh Chaudhary, near Pokhara Bus Park in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-1 on August 27. The Nepal Police condemned the despicable act, emphasizing that looting or any inhumane behavior during a disaster will not be tolerated. Flash floods and mudslides devastated mountainous regions along the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, 2026, resulting in at least 469 deaths and over 900 people still missing.

A glacier reportedly broke away, causing a massive avalanche on Mount Langtang Lirung. The deluge overwhelmed structures, individuals, and vehicles, as captured in videos widely circulated online. The heaviest damage occurred in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, located immediately south of the Chinese border.