Nepal Floods: Rescuers Crawl Through Mud-Filled Tunnels as Death Toll Nears 1,000

Nepal’s devastating floods and landslides have triggered a major search-and-rescue operation across the country, with teams battling thick mud, damaged infrastructure and unstable terrain to reach people still missing in affected areas. The disaster has killed at least 939 people in Nepal, while 3,925 remain unaccounted for, according to the latest figures reported by Nepal’s disaster authorities. 

One of the most difficult rescue operations is underway at hydropower projects in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, where floodwaters and landslides buried tunnel networks and surrounding infrastructure. Rescue teams are using heavy machinery, cameras, air-pumping equipment and other specialised tools to locate workers who may still be trapped underground.

Rescuers Move Through Mud-Filled Tunnels

Footage released by the Nepali Army shows rescue personnel navigating narrow passages filled with mud and debris while searching for survivors. The conditions inside the tunnels remain extremely difficult, with mud obstructing access points and making it hard for teams to determine the original entry and exit routes.

Controlled blasting has also been used in some areas to create access points, while specialised equipment is being deployed to search sections of the buried tunnel networks.

The hydropower sector has been among the worst affected. Earlier estimates had placed hundreds of workers among those missing from damaged projects. According to the latest reporting, the number of missing hydropower workers has fallen to 639, while rescue teams continue to search affected facilities. (BSS)

Roads, Bridges Disrupted by Floods

Rescue operations are also being slowed by widespread damage outside the tunnel sites. Floodwaters and landslides have destroyed or damaged roads and bridges, leaving several mountain communities difficult to reach.

Authorities are using helicopters to evacuate survivors and deliver essential supplies to areas cut off by the disaster. Road connectivity has gradually been restored in some affected districts, allowing rescue and relief teams to reach locations that had remained isolated. 

23 Bodies Found in Nuwakot House

The scale of the destruction has become clearer as search teams move into previously inaccessible areas. In Nuwakot district, rescuers recovered 23 bodies from a single house in the Betrabati area, according to reports on Tuesday. Search operations at the location were continuing as authorities worked to establish the final number of victims.

The development has added to concerns about the number of victims who may still be buried under mud, debris or collapsed structures.

International Support for Rescue Efforts

Nepal’s rescue operation has received international assistance as the country struggles to cope with the scale of the disaster. India and China have provided specialised support, including expertise relevant to tunnel rescue operations.

Reuters reported that 279 workers had been rescued from hydropower facilities, while around 600 remained trapped or unaccounted for in connection with the affected projects. 

Search Continues Amid Fresh Risks

Rescuers continue to face the threat of additional landslides, heavy rain and unstable ground. These conditions have repeatedly forced teams to pause operations and move to safer locations.

The immediate priority remains locating people still missing, rescuing anyone trapped underground and providing emergency assistance to communities that have lost homes, roads and other essential infrastructure.

The latest figures underline the severity of the disaster, with Nepal’s death toll already approaching the 1,000 mark and thousands of people still unaccounted for. Authorities are continuing search, evacuation and relief operations across the worst-hit districts.

Cloudburst Triggers Flash Flood in J&K’s Rajouri, Four Dead; Houses and Infrastructure Washed Away

A powerful cloudburst triggered a devastating flash flood in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, leaving at least four people dead and causing extensive damage to houses, roads, vehicles and other infrastructure.

The cloudburst reportedly occurred on July 19 at multiple locations in the hilly Rajdhani area of Thanamandi subdivision. Local residents said the sudden surge of water through the area’s nallahs caused widespread destruction. (Republic World)

Houses, Roads Washed Away

The impact was particularly severe in Rajdhani Panchayat, where roads and agricultural land were damaged and several landslides were reported.

The main bus stand was washed away, while several vehicles were swept away by the floodwaters. Residential properties were also damaged, with at least one house occupied by a family of six completely washed away. The displaced family reportedly took shelter in a government school. (Republic World)

Residents Recall Terrifying Night

Residents described the flood as an unusually intense event. One affected resident told ANI that the family was inside their house when they heard the sound of the swollen river and rolling boulders before the floodwaters reached the property.

The resident said the family managed to escape, but the house was completely destroyed. (Republic World)

Four People Killed

The disaster claimed four lives, making the July 19 incident one of the more destructive weather-related events reported in the Rajouri district in recent times.

The flooding also damaged public infrastructure, vehicles, agricultural land and roads across affected areas. (Republic World)

Heavy Rain Threat Continues

Residents in the higher reaches remain concerned about the possibility of further heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides. The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of Jammu and Kashmir's mountainous areas to sudden extreme-weather events.

The Rajouri incident comes amid repeated episodes of intense rainfall and flash flooding across parts of Jammu and Kashmir during this year's monsoon season. (The Economic Times)

Heavy monsoon rains continued to disrupt normal life across several parts of India on Saturday, with a cloudburst triggering flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar, landslides claiming six lives in Kerala, and widespread flooding forcing thousands to evacuate in Gujarat.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also forecast heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in several districts of Arunachal Pradesh over the coming days.

Cloudburst Floods Houses in Kishtwar

A cloudburst in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir triggered a flash flood, inundating several houses and disrupting normal life.

As a precautionary measure, authorities ordered the closure of schools in Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts while emergency teams monitored the situation and assessed the damage.

Six Killed in Kerala Landslides

In Kerala, relentless rainfall lashed several southern districts, including Kochi, which recorded 361 mm of rainfall within 24 hours.

The heavy downpour triggered landslides in different parts of the state, resulting in the deaths of six people, while authorities continued rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.

Gujarat Faces Severe Flooding

Gujarat also witnessed widespread flooding following intense rainfall in districts including Surat and Morbi.

According to officials, more than 27,000 people were shifted to safer locations, while 53 others were rescued from flood-affected areas.

The highest rainfall in the state was recorded in Ambika taluka of Surat district, where 611 mm of rain fell in the last 24 hours.

Floodwaters entered residential colonies and submerged roads in several parts of Surat and Morbi, severely affecting transportation and daily life.

IMD Forecasts More Rain

The India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in several districts of Arunachal Pradesh from Sunday onward, indicating that wet conditions are likely to persist in parts of northeast India.

Tamil Nadu Offers Special Prayers for Rain

While several states grappled with excessive rainfall, parts of Tamil Nadu continued to face dry conditions and water scarcity.

Around 2,000 members of the Muslim community gathered in Thennur, Tiruchirappalli, to offer Salat al-Istisqa, a special prayer seeking rainfall.

The state has been experiencing prolonged dry weather, with temperatures exceeding 37.5°C in several districts, intensifying concerns over water availability.

The contrasting weather conditions highlight the uneven progress of the southwest monsoon across the country, with some regions struggling with floods while others continue to await adequate rainfall.

The southwest monsoon has now covered the entire country, bringing widespread rainfall but also causing severe disruption across several states. Heavy showers on Thursday triggered floods, landslides, road cave-ins, building collapses and waterlogging, affecting normal life in Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and other parts of the country.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued heavy rainfall in several regions and issued weather alerts, including a red alert for Delhi, as authorities remain on high alert.

Road Cave-in in Ghaziabad

One of the major incidents was reported from Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, where a road caved in after continuous rainfall. A car and a motorcycle fell into the pit created by the collapse. Waterlogging was reported across several parts of the city, with some roads submerged under nearly two feet of water. Power supply was also disrupted in multiple localities.

Heavy rain was also recorded in Meerut, Bahraich, Hapur, Lucknow, Ayodhya and several other districts.

Landslides Hit Uttarakhand

In Uttarakhand, persistent rainfall triggered landslides in Uttarkashi and Tehri districts, disrupting road connectivity and damaging infrastructure.

The Gangotri National Highway was blocked near Nagun after debris from a landslide covered the road, forcing authorities to suspend traffic while clearance operations continued. Reports of house collapses also emerged from rain-hit areas, while roads in Haridwar were submerged due to waterlogging.

Rescue teams and local administration remain deployed in vulnerable locations as heavy rainfall continues.

Flood Situation Worsens in Maharashtra

Maharashtra continued to face flood-like conditions in several districts. In Raigad's Panvel area, nearly 3,000 LPG cylinders were swept into the Patalganga River after floodwaters inundated an LPG bottling plant.

The district administration has urged residents not to touch or collect any floating cylinders due to the risk of explosions and accidents.

Meanwhile, rivers including the Mutha in Pune remained in spate, inundating low-lying areas and affecting traffic movement.

Heavy Rain Across Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh witnessed another intense spell of monsoon rainfall, with showers reported from more than 20 districts. Damoh recorded the highest rainfall of 1.75 inches during the past 24 hours.

In Khargone district, a young man was reportedly swept away by the strong current of the Ruparel River. Several roads remained submerged, while local authorities continued monitoring river levels and vulnerable locations.

Rajasthan and Gujarat Continue to Receive Rain

Eastern and southern Rajasthan also experienced heavy rainfall, with districts including Bharatpur, Udaipur, Alwar, Karauli and Chittorgarh reporting waterlogging and disrupted traffic.

In Gujarat, multiple weather systems remained active simultaneously, bringing heavy rain to districts such as Surat, Navsari and Gir Somnath. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a review meeting to assess the flood situation and preparedness across the state.

Delhi Records Heavy Downpour

The national capital witnessed intense rainfall on Thursday, resulting in widespread waterlogging in several areas, including Sangam Vihar and Badarpur.

In Rohini Sector 15, a tree uprooted by strong winds fell on a parked van, damaging the vehicle. No injuries were reported.

Heavy waterlogging was also reported at a government school in Badarpur, disrupting normal activities.

Authorities Continue Relief Operations

Across the affected states, disaster response teams, police personnel and local administrations are engaged in rescue, evacuation and road clearance operations. Authorities have advised residents in vulnerable areas to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from swollen rivers and follow official weather advisories.

With the monsoon now covering the entire country and more rainfall forecast over the coming days, officials are closely monitoring flood-prone regions to minimise damage and ensure public safety.