Nepal floods have claimed 579 lives, while 1,924 people remain missing, authorities said. Amid the disaster, Nepal waived trekking fees for foreign Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims returning through Hilsa, offering relief as flood damage disrupted travel across affected areas.
Nepal’s devastating floods have so far claimed the lives of 579 people, while 1,924 others remain unaccounted for, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). The latest figures, released on Friday evening, underline the scale of the disaster as authorities continue efforts to recover bodies and trace people who remain missing.
The NDRRMA said the bodies of 579 people swept away by the floods had been recovered so far. However, the large number of people still out of contact has raised concerns about the continuing impact of the disaster, particularly in areas affected by severe flooding and disruptions to transportation and communication.
Meanwhile, the Nepal government has announced a temporary waiver of the trekking fee for foreign nationals returning from the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through the Hilsa border point in Humla district.
The decision comes amid major disruptions caused by devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi River. The flooding has affected travel routes and created difficulties for pilgrims attempting to return through the western border area.
According to a notice issued by Nepal’s Department of Immigration on Friday, the fee waiver will remain applicable for one week. It covers foreign pilgrims returning from the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage who had previously obtained departure permits from the Immigration Office in Rasuwa.
Under normal circumstances, foreign travellers passing through the Hilsa border point are required to trek through an area classified as restricted. Authorities generally charge a trekking fee of US$50 per person per week for travel through the restricted area.
The temporary waiver is intended to ease the difficulties faced by stranded or delayed pilgrims as flood-related disruptions continue to affect movement in the region.
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The latest death and missing-person figures, combined with the travel disruptions, highlight the widespread consequences of the floods across Nepal. Authorities are continuing recovery and response efforts while affected communities and travellers face the challenges created by damaged routes and difficult conditions.
