Kathmandu, August 27:The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal has climbed to 359, while 910 people remain missing or out of contact, as authorities step up search, rescue and relief operations amid warnings of another potentially major flood triggered by a lake forming upstream of the Lhende River.

According to the latestRasuwa Bhotekoshi Flood Search, Rescue and Relief Updateissued by Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) up to 6:20 PM local time on Thursday, 359 bodies have been recovered from eight districts.

Chitwan has recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 132 bodies recovered, followed by Nawalparasi East with 82, Dhading with 33, Gorkha with 30, Nuwakot with 28, Tanahun with 22, Rasuwa with 17 and Nawalparasi West with 15. The Gorkha figure includes recovered human body parts, the NDRRMA said.

Of the 910 people reported missing or out of contact, 28 are Nepal Police personnel, 44 Nepal Army personnel, 13 Armed Police Force personnel, 15 Customs Office personnel and four Immigration Office personnel.

Rasuwa has reported 161 people missing or out of contact, based on information from the District Emergency Operation Centre, while one person is missing in Nuwakot.

The disaster has also affected foreign nationals, with 517 reported missing or out of contact. In addition, 127 Nepali citizens living abroad who were visiting Nepal have been listed among those affected.

Authorities have reported 73 injured people, including 43 in Rasuwa, three in Dhading and 27 in Nuwakot.

NDRRMA said 13,295 security personnel have been deployed across the affected areas. The force includes 7,250 Nepal Police personnel, 4,200 Nepal Army personnel and 1,845 Armed Police Force personnel.

Hundreds Rescued as Relief Efforts Intensify

Helicopter operations rescued 716 people on Thursday, with 69 rescue flights carried out during the day. Among those rescued by air were 50 foreign nationals.

Another 756 people were rescued by land as authorities continued efforts to reach communities affected by the floods.

Relief supplies have also been sent to the affected areas. NDRRMA said 10 trucks carrying essential items, including noodles, biscuits, sleeping bags, mattresses and blankets, were dispatched. Communication equipment was also sent, while food and other non-food relief materials were transported through four helicopter flights.

Fresh Flood Threat From Upstream Lake

The intensified rescue operations come as authorities warn of a fresh and potentially major flood threat in the Bhotekoshi River system following the formation of a lake upstream.

Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology's Flood Forecasting Division said it had received information from China through Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Lhende River had been blocked at the location where Wednesday's devastating flash flood occurred.

The blockage has led to the formation of a lake, which authorities said is continuing to rise, raising concerns about a possible sudden outburst and another major flood downstream.

The department has urged residents living along the lower banks of the Bhotekoshi River, as well as passengers, rescuers and others operating in the area, to exercise extreme caution.

Until further notice, authorities have advised people to remain in safe locations away from riverbanks and other high-risk areas.

The warning has added urgency to ongoing rescue and relief operations as authorities continue to search for hundreds of people still missing following the devastating floods.