The death toll from severe flash floods in Nepal has risen to 955, while more than 4,471 remain missing, according to a report by CNN.

Debris has obstructed nine hydropower tunnels under construction in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, trapping more than 900 workers from Nepal, South Korea and China. The scale of the underground emergency has complicated rescue operations and increased pressure on already stretched response teams, who are reportedly struggling to detect signs of life even with heat signature tracking equipment. Domestic rescue teams reportedly lack sufficient heavy machinery and equipment capable of accurately locating people underground.

Emergency personnel from India, China, South Korea and Australia are working alongside Nepal’s military and police in efforts to extract workers from the blocked tunnels. The multinational response reflects the technical complexity of searches conducted in unstable underground environments.

Nepal rejected the notion that it was limiting the scope of foreign assistance. A report by NPR quoted Nepal’s Minister of Finance, Swarnim Wagle as saying that Nepal had accepted support based on “the needs on the ground”.

However, it is likely that geopolitical sensitivities and the specter of possible foreign interference may have been a possible factor behind the reluctance to accept foreign assistance, as traditionally Kathmandu has been a subject of soft power rivalries between regional heavyweights India and China.

According to a report by Reuters, China’s Foreign Ministry rejected allegations that authorities had failed to issue adequate warnings or had understated casualties in Chinese territory.

Difficult weather conditions continue to hamper rescue operations, while the possibility of further glacial collapses poses additional risks to search teams and nearby barrier lakes.

The evolving hazards could prolong recovery efforts and increase the potential for further casualties, underscoring the need for specialised equipment, cross-border coordination and sustained international assistance as conditions remain unstable.