# Bhotekoshi flood relief and infrastructure recovery in Nepal

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bhotekoshi-flood-relief-and-rescue-operations-in-nepal
> Updated: 2026-09-12T01:00:00.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Following the Bhotekoshi floods in Nepal, initial relief efforts focused on the deployment of drone technology for search, rescue, and damage assessment. The government, in coordination with the Robotics Association of Nepal, utilized drones for aerial mapping and delivering food and medicine to isolated communities. The Nepal Chamber of Commerce also contributed surveillance drones to the Nepal Police and provided material aid to several districts. As the situation progressed, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported critical shortages of specialized technical experts and equipment. Due to a lack of in-house resources and insufficient budget, the government requested assistance from India and China to support rescue operations, specifically for individuals potentially trapped in tunnels. Efforts to manage information have also faced challenges; a government rescue request portal intended for missing person reports has caused public confusion due to data inconsistencies and discrepancies between the portal and official statistics. However, a dedicated Rescue Request Portal has since been launched to centralize information regarding missing persons, emergency contacts, and financial assistance. Recent assessments by the Department of Roads indicate extensive infrastructure damage, with an estimated Rs 30 billion required to rebuild roads and bridges, noting that 32 of 41 bridges in the affected area were completely destroyed. Consequently, the government has requested immediate support from the Loss and Damage Fund, stating the scale of the disaster exceeds domestic resources. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has formed a task force to manage rehabilitation within 21 days using a ‘build back better’ approach. Reports also indicate that flood risk warnings were issued by a study committee a year ago, but recommendations to relocate vulnerable settlements were not implemented. As of September 9, the NDRRMA reported a confirmed death toll of 1,369, with more than 5,000 people still unaccounted for.

## Claims

- Nepal's army is using four DJI FlyCart 100 drones donated by China for relief efforts. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The drones are performing between 10 and 16 missions per day. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The drones are carrying approximately 60 kg (132 pounds) of supplies per trip. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The floods were caused by a partial collapse of a Himalayan glacier on August 26. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The confirmed death toll from the disaster is 1,369 people. (single source)
- More than 5,000 people remain unaccounted for. (single source)
- The drones have transported 1,591 kilograms of food across 31 flights. (single source)
- Nepal has deployed over 21,000 police and military personnel for search and rescue. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-12: Nepal uses Chinese cargo drones for flood relief efforts

Nepal's army is using Chinese-donated DJI cargo drones to deliver food and medicine to flood-isolated regions following a Himalayan glacier collapse that left over 1,300 dead.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nepal-uses-cargo-drones-for-flood-relief-and-search-operations

### 2026-08-28: Nepal deploys drones for Bhotekoshi flood rescue and relief

Drones are being deployed in Nepal to aid Bhotekoshi flood rescue efforts. Organizations are providing surveillance and payload drones to deliver supplies and map damage in inaccessible areas.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nepal-deploys-drones-for-bhotekoshi-flood-rescue-and-relief

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Cite as: Bhotekoshi flood relief and infrastructure recovery in Nepal. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bhotekoshi-flood-relief-and-rescue-operations-in-nepal