Nepal Floods Update
Latest Update – 9 September 2026: Visiting our pensioners in the Trishuli corridor
Today, a team from AWC Bagmati travelled to the Trishuli corridor to visit pensioners affected by the recent floods.
The devastation was understandably extensive. Homes and buildings have been destroyed, mud and debris have reached upper floors, and several bridges have been swept away, making travel between communities extremely difficult.
We visited Gurkha widow Ningma Tamang, whose home was completely swept away. There is now no trace of the house where she once lived.
Ningma is currently staying temporarily with her daughter-in-law, granddaughter and grandson. Our team checked on the family and their immediate needs, while two of our staff members also personally provided clothes for them. We are assessing what further support will be most practical for them.
We will continue to stay in touch with our pensioners and support them through this difficult time.
“For us, the visit was a reminder that behind every situation report are real people and families whose lives have been changed in an instant.” Kushal Thapa, GWT(N)
Latest Update – 3 September 2026
The catastrophic flash floods that struck northern and central Nepal on 26 August have caused immense devastation across the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river basin. As the full scale of the disaster continues to unfold across the country, our teams on the ground are working tirelessly to gauge the impact on the communities we serve.
Nationally, the human cost of this tragedy is heartbreaking. The official death toll across Nepal has now risen past 1,250, with recovery operations ongoing and over 4,800 people still reported missing, including nearly 600 foreign nationals.
Up to 93,000 people have been displaced or directly impacted, and aid agencies report that at least 22,000 children are currently left without safe drinking water due to destroyed sanitation networks, raising urgent concerns over waterborne diseases.
At The Gurkha Welfare Trust, our primary focus remains the safety, health, and wellbeing of our Gurkha veterans, widows, and their wider communities.
The recent events in Nepal have been a stark reminder of how vulnerable Nepal is to natural disasters, and how vital it is to be ready if, and when disaster strikes. We are deeply grateful for your support following this disaster.
While road conditions remain poor, particularly on unsealed sections beyond Galchhi, the route is currently passable for authorised relief and emergency vehicles. This has given our teams in Nepal confidence that essential support can continue to reach our pensioners.
Our Area Welfare Centre in Bagmati is planning to deploy Welfare and Medical teams next week to deliver medication and welfare pensions to those pensioners whose visits were postponed as a result of the flooding. This will hopefully enable support to reach 43 veterans and widows in the affected area, including 25 pensioners who normally receive cash payments in person.
Disaster Alert: Initial Response – 28 August 2026
Devastating floods that struck Rasuwa and downstream river communities on 26 August have caused widespread damage across Northern Nepal.
Official reports indicate 165 fatalities, 826 people missing and 63 injured to date. Roads, bridges and riverside settlements have been swept away, leaving many communities isolated and hindering relief efforts.
The Government of Nepal is leading a large-scale response involving the Nepal Army, police, medical teams and humanitarian organisations. Damage to infrastructure is extensive, including dozens of bridges and around 40 kilometres of road, while rescue and evacuation operations remain ongoing.
The Gurkha Welfare Trust Nepal has been conducting welfare checks through its network of Area Welfare Centres. While no Gurkha beneficiaries have been reported killed or injured, several families have been directly affected.
A four-member Pensioner Support Team from GWT Nepal was deployed with relief supplies and to conduct an initial assessment of affected beneficiaries. However, ongoing safety concerns and restrictions imposed by local authorities meant the team was unable to reach some of the worst-affected areas and was required to turn back.
Communications across parts of the affected region remain severely disrupted due to power outages and damage to infrastructure, making it difficult to contact residents and verify the condition of properties and communities impacted by the floods.
In Trishuli, a Gurkha widow and her family lost their home and all their belongings when it was swept away by floodwaters. They escaped safely and are receiving temporary accommodation and emergency support. Another beneficiary has been confirmed safe, although access restrictions have prevented confirmation of damage to her home. A further widow whose home was destroyed is sheltering on higher ground with her family, but is facing shortages of food, water and shelter.
Although communications are disrupted and access is still limited in some areas, GWT continues to monitor the situation, support vulnerable beneficiaries and coordinate with local authorities to assess needs.