A Malaysian citizen, who went missing for 37 days after the catastrophic Bhote Koshi flood in Rasuwa district on August 26, 2026, has safely returned to Malaysia. This was confirmed on Friday, October 2, 2026, by Manivannan Rethinam, spokesperson for Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope (MOSFIH), a group representing families of missing Malaysian citizens.
The individual, a Malaysian citizen of Chinese origin, contacted the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu himself. Rethinam also confirmed the safe return with the individual’s close relatives. This incident reduces the number of Malaysian citizens still missing in Nepal from 55 to 54.
Communication breakdown
The missing Malaysian citizen was last known to be at Nagthali Viewpoint on August 25 (Bhadra 9) at 3:26 PM. The Bhote Koshi flood, which occurred the following morning, severely damaged roads and bridges in the area, leading to a loss of communication. The lack of electricity, water, and internet services further complicated his movement and ability to contact anyone.
The catastrophic flood in the Bhote Koshi river in Rasuwa, Bagmati province, on August 26, 2026, at 8:40 AM, caused extensive damage to lives and property. It is believed to have originated from Tibet, possibly linked to a glacial lake outburst or an avalanche in the Himalayan region. The flood impacted hydropower projects, bridges, roads, vehicles, and market areas.
Ongoing search and recovery efforts
According to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Nepal’s government body for disaster management, as of October 1, 2026, a total of 5,285 people remain missing due to the Rasuwa-Bhote Koshi flood and other monsoon-related disasters. So far, 1,454 bodies or human remains have been recovered from the affected areas, but only 112 have been identified.
The government has decided to modify its ongoing search and rescue operations in the flood-affected regions, shifting towards a “search and recovery” process. Dr. Dharmaraj Upreti, the executive chief of the NDRRMA, stated that search efforts are continuing in two tunnels, but the focus has now expanded beyond rescue to include rehabilitation.
For the permanent resettlement of displaced families, safe locations will be selected based on a report submitted by the Land Identification and Search Committee, formed by a ministerial decision of the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration. Furthermore, the Insurance Authority has issued a procedure for claim payments related to the August 26 (Bhadra 10) Bhote Koshi flood, which mandates a 50% advance payment based on initial reports.
By September 30, 2026, the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund and the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund had accumulated over Rs 16.15 billion for flood relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Unanswered questions remain
The name of the Malaysian citizen who returned after 37 days missing in the Bhote Koshi flood has not been publicly released. Details regarding the current status of the remaining 54 Malaysian citizens still missing in Nepal are also unavailable. Furthermore, comprehensive information on the current state of electricity, water, and internet services in the Nagthali Viewpoint area is not yet available.
