Nepal has officially concluded search-and-rescue operations following the devastating August floods that claimed at least 1,455 lives and left 5,285 people missing. Officials are now transitioning to a rehabilitation phase, which includes establishing legal processes to declare missing persons dead so families can finalize essential banking and insurance formalities. While active searching has ceased, authorities confirmed that emergency rescues will continue if necessary and any remains or valuables discovered during reconstruction will be recovered.
The disaster caused widespread destruction, damaging 12 hydro-electric projects, roads, bridges, and farms, with recovery efforts estimated to cost nearly $7 billion. To mitigate future threats, the government is launching a long-term project to drain four high-altitude glacial lakes identified as high-risk. This initiative involves constructing gated drainage systems to regulate water levels and prevent potential dam breaches.
The drainage project, which targets the Thulagi, Lower Barun, Lumding Tsho, and Hongu II lakes, is expected to take up to six years to complete. In addition to physical drainage, the plan includes installing advanced flood forecasting sensors and warning systems to protect downstream communities. Experts noted that the work will be challenging due to the extreme altitudes and the complex engineering required to stabilize these dangerous glacial sites.
