More than a week after catastrophic flash floods tore through Nepal, the death toll has climbed to at least 1,252, with thousands still unaccounted for, as the country shifts focus from emergency rescue to the long and arduous task of rebuilding lives and restoring destroyed infrastructure. The floods, described by local officials as the worst natural disaster many Nepalis have ever witnessed, have left entire communities displaced and critical road links severed.

Scale of Destruction

Bidur Municipal Corporation Mayor Rajan Sreshth said the scale of devastation was unlike anything residents had experienced. 'Property damage is extensive. Bidur Municipality is one of the worst-affected areas; among the 13 wards in our municipality, 10 are fully affected,' he said. Rescue and relief operations remain ongoing, with approximately 17 holding centres in the area currently sheltering more than 3,000 displaced residents. The municipality is now turning its attention to restoration planning for properties that have been destroyed.

Army Races to Restore Vital Bridge Link

The Nepal Army is constructing a 57.5-metre-long iron bridge with a 70-tonne load capacity to reconnect Devighat with Kathmandu via Gulchi — a crossing that collapsed in the floods, cutting off road connectivity and causing heavy infrastructure damage to surrounding areas. Bridge Commander Major Chiranjibi Chaulagain of the Nepal Army's Bridging Unit said work is progressing rapidly. 'We are now going to set up roller layout for the bridge. Today, we'll complete the roller layout system, and tomorrow early in the morning we will begin the bridge work,' he said. Construction is expected to be completed within five days.

Families Search for the Missing

In Kathmandu, the anguish of uncertainty is visible outside the morgue of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, where family members of missing persons have gathered near posted notices and photographs. One relative described searching for a man who had travelled to Rasuwa district to deliver goods and whose vehicle broke down near Trishuli. 'While it was being repaired, a sudden heavy flood of water came, and since then, there is no trace of him... I even saw the bodies that came in vehicles, but they couldn't be identified,' the relative said. This scene is being repeated across multiple districts, reflecting the scale of human loss that official figures alone cannot capture.

India Steps Up as First Responder

Mayor Sreshth expressed gratitude to India for being the first country to respond to the crisis. 'From the beginning, India has been a true friend to us. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always stood in favour of the people and interests of Nepal. Just like India provided aid during the earthquake in 2015, PM Modi and the Indian government have been sending financial assistance for relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts as our nation faces this natural calamity now. We express our gratitude and heartfelt thanks to PM Modi,' Sreshth said. This comes amid a broader pattern of India acting as Nepal's primary bilateral partner during natural disasters, a role that carries both humanitarian and diplomatic significance.

What Comes Next

With immediate rescue operations still underway in several districts, authorities face the dual challenge of accounting for the missing while simultaneously planning reconstruction. The restoration of road and bridge connectivity is considered the most urgent infrastructure priority, as severed links are hampering relief distribution to remote areas. The coming weeks will test Nepal's institutional capacity and the durability of international solidarity as the country moves from crisis response to long-term recovery.