Drones a key part of Nepal's response to flash-flood disaster

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With roads and bridges destroyed and helicopters busy with search and rescue operations after last month's devastating floods, Nepal's army is turning to drones to ‌deliver relief to displaced people.

Drones being used to deliver aid, perform reconnaissance and help with rescue operations

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: Sep 09, 2026 11:37 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

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Three men including one in army camouflage and one in a neon safety vest stand over a large drone on the ground in a rocky outdoor area.

At least 1,367 people are confirmed dead and more than 5,000 are missing in Nepal since a Himalayan glacier broke off near the Nepal-China border in late August and caused devastation along rivers farther downstream.

A quadcopter drone with an illuminated light in its centre flying under a mostly dark sky hauling a non-descript object by a cable beneath it.

"Most of our helicopters are busy with rescue operations. There is no other way to send food, essentials, medicine and fuel, except for ⁠drones, which are ⁠the best option to ‌utilize, and we should prioritize them more," said Santosh Budhathoki, a contract drone pilot for the Nepal army.

Drones are used over distances of three to four ⁠kilometres and can haul up to 60 kilograms at a time. They are already making an impact for ‌affected communities in dire need of aid, Budhathoki said.

A quadcopter drone flies with a red cable hanging from it near a group of buildings, some of them half-submerged in mud, in a mountainous area.

The army is now making around 10 to 16 aid deliveries a day with a fleet of four DJI FlyCart 100 drones, all donated from China as part of a recent aid package.

In addition to aid delivery, ⁠drones have also been used to move the bodies of flood ⁠victims in some affected areas, while reconnaissance drones have also ⁠been ⁠heavily used in search and rescue operations.

A man standing above buildings holds a large drone remote control and wears a red visor with an antenna.

"We’ve been operating back and forth early in the morning. So yes, it is ⁠quite hectic, because we need to have this thing right now," said Milan Pandey, of the drone-operating company Airlift Technology.

"Nepal has this geography, this terrain where drones would be really faster, quicker and cheaper," ⁠Pandey said.