Asia Intelligence Brief — Saturday, August 29, 2026

Nepal's death toll from the disaster has surpassed 620 as of Saturday morning, with a total of 623 confirmed dead according to the wire count, 626 according to Dawn, and 616 bodies recovered by the police. The number of people missing stands at 638, while 2,426 remain out of contact. The situation is worsening, with rivers continuing to carry the missing downstream.

In Nepal, around 100 workers and residents are trapped inside the Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel, sealed by debris from floodwaters. An Indian tunnel-rescue unit, experienced from previous operations, has arrived to assist in the rescue effort. This tunnel has now become the largest concentration of living people awaiting rescue.

China has paused its search in Gyirong county due to renewed flood forecasts, which have made the valley floor itself dangerous. On the Tibetan side, 554 people are missing, including 555 tourists and 499 local residents, who have already been evacuated. A recent magnitude-5.1 earthquake in Sichuan has further complicated the situation by shaking the same saturated geology.

India has dispatched its third relief flight, carrying doctors and a tunnel-assessment team, bringing the total airlift to 57.5 tonnes in three days. India is set to host the BRICS summit on September 12-13, with Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to attend. Modi has begun a two-day visit to Uzbekistan as part of summit preparations.

President Pezeshkian of Iran has reportedly reached an agreement with Oman on a passage route through the Strait of Hormuz, after six months of war left the strait effectively closed to normal tanker traffic, stranding 400 vessels and 6,000 seafarers in the Gulf. India has confirmed it will host the BRICS summit on September 12-13, with Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to attend.

Prime Minister Modi initiated a two-day visit to Uzbekistan on Saturday, coinciding with the summit preparations.