Kathmandu, Nepal, August 29, 2026 — China and India are sending specialized emergency response teams to Nepal following the government’s request for assistance in high-risk rescue operations linked to the devastating Bhote Koshi floods.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said two specialized technical teams from China are scheduled to arrive in Nepal on Saturday and begin operations on Sunday. They will join an 11-member Indian team specializing in medical assistance and tunnel rescue that has already arrived in Kathmandu.
The international assistance was sought after Nepali security forces encountered significant technical challenges while attempting to access submerged tunnels of hydroelectric projects in the flood-affected areas. Several tunnel entrances remain blocked by thick layers of mud, boulders and river sediment, making underground rescue operations particularly difficult.
The disaster struck on August 26 following a massive glacial collapse in the Nepal-Tibet border region, sending a powerful surge of water and debris through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems.
According to the latest official disaster updates, the death toll across the affected districts has risen above 600, while nearly 2,000 people remain missing. The missing include local and foreign workers believed to have been in the affected areas, including some who may be trapped inside hydropower tunnels.
