Hundreds Missing in Nepal Floods as India Prepares for BRICS Summit and Asian Games

More than 270 Indian nationals remain missing following catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border late last month, even as emergency crews continue rescue operations in the region. The disaster comes during a busy period for India, which is currently finalizing preparations to host the international BRICS summit and readying its national delegation for the Asian Games in Japan.

Rescue Operations Continue After Border Floods

India’s Ministry of External Affairs reported that 275 Indian citizens are still unaccounted for following flash floods that inundated areas near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26. Foreign ministry updates confirmed that emergency teams have successfully rescued 169 Indians from the affected disaster zones so far. Temporary relief centers, including facilities in Trishuli, Nepal, have been set up to assist survivors and help families search for missing relatives.

New Delhi Increases Security for BRICS Gathering

As search efforts continue abroad, security measures in New Delhi are reaching their final phase ahead of the 18th BRICS summit, scheduled for September 12 and 13 at the Bharat Mandapam convention center. Authorities conducted motorcade rehearsals and issued traffic advisories across major capital routes. According to a report by The Indian Express, officials plan to deploy surveillance drones to monitor vehicle flow and clear traffic bottlenecks throughout the event.

The upcoming summit has driven a steep rise in local accommodation costs. Indian media reports indicate that luxury hotels across New Delhi are largely sold out or charging elevated tariffs. Travel application listings showed one central Delhi luxury hotel room priced at 23,000 Indian rupees per night standard rate rising to 280,000 Indian rupees per night during the summit period, before returning to normal rates on September 14.

Athletes Test Simulated Accommodations for Asian Games

In sport, Indian athletes preparing for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi, Japan, are taking turns sleeping in temporary wooden cabins built to mirror their upcoming lodging. The continental event, running from September 19 to October 4, will host over 17,000 athletes and officials. To cut costs, organizers in Japan are utilizing non-traditional housing including cruise ships, hotels, and prefabricated wooden structures instead of a central athletes’ village.

To help competitors adjust, the Sports Authority of India constructed climate-controlled, container-style wooden units at its training centers in Bengaluru and Patiala. Each 40-foot by 10-foot unit contains two twin bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a shared living area. Vineet Kumar, deputy director general of the authority, described the structures as a simulator designed to ensure athletes do not feel uncomfortable or claustrophobic upon arriving in Japan.

Background

India holds the rotating chairship of BRICS for 2026 under the official theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.’ The founding member previously hosted the group’s leaders’ summit in 2012, 2016, and 2021. Separately, India marked its annual national Teachers’ Day on September 5, a tradition established in 1962 on the birth anniversary of philosopher and former Indian president Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.