Nepal PM thanks India for flood relief after 1,453 deaths, $2.69bn damage
Synopsis
Nepal's PM Balendra Shah publicly thanked India — at the UNGA and again bilaterally — for a multi-pronged disaster response that included tonnes of relief supplies, search-and-rescue teams and DNA forensic experts, after floods killed 1,453 people and caused $2.69 billion in damage. The farewell meeting with outgoing Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava puts a humanitarian stamp on a bilateral relationship that remains strategically consequential.
Key Takeaways
Nepal PM Balendra Shah thanked India for disaster relief during a farewell meeting with Ambassador Naveen Srivastava on 29 September at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu .
Floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, triggered by an avalanche near the Nepal-China border on 26 August , have killed at least 1,453 people and left 5,285 missing.
Total damage is estimated at $2.69 billion , according to the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) report.
India sent multiple consignments of relief materials, a search-and-rescue technical team and a forensic DNA analysis team.
Shah had also acknowledged India's support at the UN General Assembly on 24 September .
Naveen Srivastava served as India's Ambassador to Nepal from 25 June 2022 and noted several bilateral development projects completed during his tenure.
Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Tuesday, 29 September formally expressed gratitude to India for its swift disaster-relief response following the devastating floods and landslides that have claimed at least 1,453 lives and left 5,285 people missing across the country. The thanks were conveyed during a farewell meeting with outgoing Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava at Singha Durbar, the seat of Nepal's government in Kathmandu, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.
The Scale of the Disaster
The catastrophe was triggered by an avalanche near the Nepal-China border, which sent floodwaters surging through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers beginning 26 August. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority confirmed the death and missing-persons toll, while a Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) report pegged total damage and losses at $2.69 billion — underscoring the scale of destruction that has rendered this one of Nepal's costliest natural disasters in recent memory.
India's Relief Effort
India was among the first countries to mobilise assistance, dispatching several tonnes of relief materials — including medicines, forensic supplies, tents, hygiene kits and sleeping bags — in multiple consignments. Beyond material aid, New Delhi also deployed a technical team carrying specialised search-and-rescue equipment to support tunnel operations, and a separate team of forensic experts to conduct DNA analysis of victims. The multi-pronged response reflected the depth of the bilateral humanitarian framework between the two neighbours.
Shah's Acknowledgement at the UN
Prime Minister Shah had already signalled his appreciation on the international stage. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 24 September, he specifically named India and China as countries that stood by Nepal during the crisis. Tuesday's meeting with Ambassador Srivastava served as a bilateral reinforcement of that public acknowledgement, with Shah reiterating that relations between Nepal and India have 'always remained cordial and close,' according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.
Ambassador Srivastava's Tenure
The farewell meeting also marked the close of a significant diplomatic chapter. Naveen Srivastava assumed charge as India's Ambassador to Nepal on 25 June 2022, having previously headed the East Asia Division of India's Ministry of External Affairs — a portfolio covering relations with China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia and North Korea, according to the Indian Embassy website. Srivastava noted that several bilateral development projects had been completed during his posting and thanked the Nepali government and people for their cooperation. Shah, in turn, congratulated the outgoing envoy and extended best wishes for his future.
What This Means for India-Nepal Ties
The exchange comes at a moment when India-Nepal relations are being closely watched, particularly as both countries navigate Nepal's deepening engagement with China on infrastructure and connectivity. India's rapid disaster response — praised publicly at the UNGA and again bilaterally — reinforces New Delhi's 'Neighbourhood First' posture and its role as a first-responder partner in South Asia. The incoming ambassador will inherit a relationship that, despite periodic strains, has been publicly reaffirmed through this humanitarian episode.
Point of View
Search-and-rescue equipment, multiple relief consignments — was calibrated well beyond routine humanitarian aid, and Nepal's public acknowledgement, both at the UNGA and bilaterally, reflects that. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is the strategic subtext: with China expanding its infrastructure footprint in Nepal, New Delhi's 'first-responder' role in disasters is one of the clearest remaining levers of soft power it holds in Kathmandu. The transition of ambassadors at this precise moment is also worth watching — the incoming envoy will need to consolidate goodwill earned through crisis response into durable project delivery, where India has a patchier record. The $2.69 billion damage figure also signals that Nepal will need long-term reconstruction financing, and which country steps up most visibly in that phase will matter far more than the immediate relief round.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Nepal PM Balendra Shah thank India?
Nepal PM Balendra Shah thanked India for its extensive disaster-relief response following the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers that began on 26 August 2024, killing at least 1,453 people and causing $2.69 billion in damage. India sent relief materials, a search-and-rescue team and forensic DNA experts across multiple missions.
What did India send to Nepal after the floods?
India dispatched several tonnes of relief materials — including medicines, forensic supplies, tents, hygiene kits and sleeping bags — in multiple consignments. It also deployed a technical search-and-rescue team for tunnel operations and a forensic team to conduct DNA analysis of flood victims.
How many people died in the Nepal floods of 2024?
At least 1,453 people have been confirmed dead, with 5,285 still missing, according to Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. Total damage and losses are estimated at $2.69 billion per the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment report.
Who is Naveen Srivastava and why is he leaving Nepal?
Naveen Srivastava served as India's Ambassador to Nepal from 25 June 2022 and is returning to India after completing his diplomatic tenure. Before his Nepal posting, he headed the East Asia Division of India's Ministry of External Affairs, handling relations with China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia and North Korea.
Did Nepal's PM mention India at the United Nations?
Yes. Prime Minister Balendra Shah specifically acknowledged India and China's support during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on 24 September, before reiterating his gratitude bilaterally during the farewell meeting with Ambassador Srivastava on 29 September.
