Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre), claimed on Thursday that his party’s youth wing, the Young Communist League (YCL), was at the forefront of rescue and relief efforts following the devastating Bhote Koshi flood. He asserted that affected people in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts cried while embracing YCL members.
“If any party’s workers went to the field most effectively, they were ours,” Prachanda told journalists. “You might have seen incidents in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading where people cried holding YCL members. Who else was mobilized in this disaster?” He maintained that his party’s youth wing and other cadres were continuously active in rescue, relief, and road clearing in the flood-affected areas.
Devastating Bhote Koshi Flood and Casualties
The Bhote Koshi river experienced a massive flood, laden with debris, on Bhadra 10 (August 26, 2026), triggered by a landslide in the northern Langtang Himal region. This disaster severely impacted Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahu, Nawalparasi, and Chitwan districts. The Kerung border port, situated on the Nepal-China border, was completely destroyed.
According to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Nepal’s primary body for disaster management, as of Asoj 10 (September 26, 2026), the Bhote Koshi flood resulted in 1,453 deaths, with 5,550 people still missing and 13,795 rescued. Additionally, continuous rainfall from Asoj 8 to 11 (September 24-27, 2026) caused further floods and landslides across the country. Nepal Police reported that as of Asoj 13 (September 29, 2026), these monsoon-related disasters led to 31 deaths, 12 missing persons, and the rescue of 1,604 individuals.
Recovery Efforts Underway, Billions in Damage
The search and rescue phase in the Bhote Koshi flood and monsoon-related disaster-affected areas has concluded, with recovery and rehabilitation efforts now commencing, according to Dr. Dharmaraj Upreti, Executive Chief of the NDRRMA, who announced the shift on Asoj 14 (September 30, 2026).
Initial estimates suggest the floods caused property damage exceeding Rs 200 billion (USD 1.3 billion) across Nepal as of Asoj 10 (September 26, 2026). Long-term reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha is projected to cost over Rs 73 billion and could take several years. The NDRRMA has estimated the overall recovery for the Rasuwa flood alone will require Rs 723 billion.
The government is advancing a legal amendment to provide relief and death registration for those missing in natural disasters, treating them similarly to confirmed fatalities. Efforts are also underway to restore the road to the Rasuwaagadhi border point up to Betrawati, with a target to open it before Dashain. Temporary bridges and Bailey bridges are being rapidly installed in critical locations. The government has prioritized the restoration and continuity of telecommunication and internet services in the affected regions.
Claims Await Independent Verification
Despite Chairman Prachanda’s assertions regarding the extensive involvement of YCL cadres in the flood-affected areas, independent confirmation or detailed accounts of their specific contributions are not yet available. Furthermore, no independent evidence or additional details have been found to corroborate his claim about people crying while holding YCL members. A comprehensive list and detailed contributions of other organizations involved in relief and rescue operations in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading are also still pending.
