Nepal has called on international travelers to continue visiting the country despite the devastating floods that have claimed over 1,100 lives and caused widespread destruction. Tourism Minister Khadak Raj Paudel issued an appeal on September 1, emphasizing that the nation’s trekking routes and mountain trails remain accessible. He described visitors’ arrivals as a vital form of support amid ongoing efforts to recover from the disaster.
The floods, triggered by a glacial collapse last week, sent torrents of ice, mud, rocks, and water through a valley, obliterating entire settlements and damaging critical infrastructure. The calamity has severely impacted Nepal’s economy, already strained by rising fuel costs linked to the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, as well as declining tourism and slowed growth. The country’s 36-year-old Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who took office earlier this year, faces mounting challenges in managing the crisis and reconstruction.
Rescue operations continue amid grim conditions, with the death toll rising to at least 1,114 as of the morning of September 2. Nearly 4,000 people remain unaccounted for, including more than 590 foreigners from 39 countries, according to Nepal’s foreign ministry. Emergency teams have evacuated almost 12,000 individuals to date, often employing helicopters and aircraft to reach isolated areas cut off by flood-damaged roads and bridges.
A critical focus of the rescue efforts involves locating workers trapped in tunnels at hydropower projects in the flood-affected districts of Nuwakot and Rasuwa. Specialist teams from Nepal, India, China, and South Korea have been tunneling and excavating in an attempt to open access points. The Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) reports that approximately 950 workers remain missing at these sites, though the number underground during the disaster is unclear.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs noted its rescue team has overcome significant obstacles within the tunnels, such as confined spaces and unstable, marshy floors, and will persist in its search. Nepal’s Home Minister Sudan Gurung affirmed that authorities have not abandoned hope of finding survivors.
The extent of infrastructural damage is becoming clearer as access improves. At least 12 hydropower projects have been affected, compounding concerns about the country’s energy and economic stability. Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the enormous scale of destruction and anticipated the need for substantial international aid during the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases.
In support of ongoing relief efforts, India dispatched a fifth aircraft with an 11-member rescue team, specialized equipment, and 5.5 tonnes of medical supplies to Nepal on September 2. While the country confronts an exceptionally difficult period, officials continue to encourage tourism to aid economic recovery and demonstrate solidarity with the affected communities.