Nepal Flood Devastation: 24 Bodies Recovered From Single House in Nuwakot as Death Toll Reaches 939 With 4,000 Missing

Weeks after catastrophic flash floods tore through parts of Nepal, leaving scenes of apocalyptic destruction, ongoing search and rescue operations continue to uncover grim realities. The national death toll has climbed to 939, while nearly 4,000 individuals remain unaccounted for. In one of the most harrowing discoveries during Tuesday's operations, rescue teams recovered 24 bodies from the wreckage of a single residential building in the Nuwakot district.

24 Bodies Recovered From a Single House in Nuwakot

According to local authorities and rescue agencies, the grim discovery was made in the debris at Bidur Municipality-10 (Vetravanti), situated within the Bhote Koshi flood-affected zone of Nuwakot. Confirming the details, Nuwakot Superintendent of Police Bipin Regmi stated that the recovered victims included 13 women, 11 men, and a child. Due to the severe state of decomposition, the bodies remain unidentified and have been transferred to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for formal post-mortem examinations and identification processes.

Principal's Quick Thinking Saves 900 Students From Disaster

Amid the widespread tragedy, stories of extraordinary courage and presence of mind have emerged. Principal Rajendra Dawadi of Trishuli Secondary School averted a massive localized catastrophe through swift decision-making. Upon receiving early flood warnings, Dawadi immediately evacuated the campus, marching approximately 900 students up to a safe nearby hillside.

Moments later, a violent torrent of mud, rocks, and water completely obliterated the school building. While the timely evacuation saved the lives of nearly 900 children out of the 1,643 enrolled, two school staff members tragically failed to escape in time and remain missing.

Hydropower Workers Trapped and Rising Risk of Epidemics

Rescue operations are facing compounding challenges as days pass. In Rasuwa district's Uttargaya village alone, around 350 students are still missing. Critical infrastructure has also been severely compromised:

• Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project: Between 40 to 42 engineers and workers on duty remain trapped, with rescue teams struggling to reach them.

• Trishuli 3B Hydropower Project: The situation is critically dire here, where 118 individuals—including engineers, technical staff, and workers—are trapped with zero communication channels established.

Compounding the humanitarian crisis, a week after the disaster, a powerful foul odor is rising from the decaying organic matter trapped beneath deep layers of mud and debris. The worsening stench has sparked serious concerns over a potential disease outbreak, leaving disaster management teams racing against time to clear wreckage, recover victims, and implement emergency sanitation measures.