Nepal flood death toll rises to 734 as 2,498 people remain missing

The death toll from devastating floods in Nepal has risen to 734, while another 2,498 people remain missing, according to the country’s disaster management authorities.

The latest figures were released as emergency responders continued search-and-rescue operations across several parts of Nepal affected by severe flooding, landslides and powerful torrents of water and debris.

The Nepal flood disaster has caused widespread destruction, damaging homes, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure and leaving several communities difficult to access.

Authorities said Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan are among the areas severely affected by the disaster.

Rescue teams have been working in difficult conditions as heavy rainfall, rising river levels and unstable terrain continue to create additional risks for emergency personnel and people living in vulnerable areas.

Officials have also raised concerns about further flooding following renewed increases in water levels in the Bhotekoshi River, urging people in at-risk communities to remain alert and follow evacuation instructions.

The disaster has been particularly challenging because of the mountainous terrain. Landslides have blocked roads and destroyed bridges, limiting access to some affected communities and making it harder for rescuers to reach people who may still be trapped or stranded.

In several locations, floodwaters have carried large quantities of mud, rocks and other debris through populated areas, destroying buildings and sweeping away vehicles and other property.

Rescue teams have been using helicopters and other emergency resources to reach isolated communities, evacuate residents and deliver essential supplies to areas where road access has been disrupted.

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Search operations are also continuing at sites where people are believed to have been trapped following the flooding and landslides.

One of the major areas of concern is the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric project, where workers are believed to have been trapped inside tunnels following the disaster. Emergency teams have been attempting to reach the affected areas despite the difficult conditions.

The floods have also had consequences beyond Nepal, with neighbouring Tibet reporting deaths and missing people following a major landslide and flooding in the Himalayan region.

The scale of the disaster has raised concerns about the vulnerability of communities living in mountainous areas, where heavy rainfall, landslides, glacial activity and rapidly rising rivers can combine to produce sudden and destructive flooding.

The continuing rainfall is adding to those concerns, with authorities monitoring rivers, unstable slopes and other areas considered vulnerable to additional landslides or flash floods.

Emergency agencies have deployed security personnel, rescue workers and other responders to assist affected communities. Helicopters are also being used where necessary to evacuate people from locations cut off by damaged roads and bridges.

The humanitarian response is focused on finding missing people, recovering victims, evacuating residents from dangerous areas and providing food, water, shelter and medical assistance to survivors.

The large number of people still reported missing has heightened fears that the death toll could increase as rescue teams gain access to areas that remain difficult to reach.

Families across affected communities are also waiting for information about relatives whose whereabouts remain unknown.

The disaster has left thousands of people facing the loss of homes, livelihoods and essential infrastructure, while authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage.

The Nepal floods have therefore developed into a major humanitarian emergency, with rescue and relief operations expected to continue as authorities work to reach isolated communities and reduce the risk of further loss of life.

Officials have urged residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas to remain vigilant, avoid dangerous waterways and move to safer locations when instructed as weather conditions and river levels continue to be monitored.

Nepal flood death toll rises to 734 as 2,498 people remain missing

Bill Gates warns AI could cause mass job losses, weaken critical thinking

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has raised a fresh alarm over the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), warning that the technology could fundamentally change human life, eliminate millions of jobs, weaken critical-thinking skills and increase access to dangerous information.

Gates, in a lengthy essay examining the emerging AI era, said the world is not adequately prepared for the scale and speed of the transformation ahead.

He acknowledged that AI could deliver enormous benefits in healthcare, agriculture, education and scientific research, but warned that the technology could also create serious economic, social and security risks if governments and technology companies fail to establish effective safeguards.

“Even under the best circumstances, the transition to this new AI era will be one of the most turbulent times in human history,” Gates wrote.

“Right now, we are not preparing for it. I don’t see evidence that leaders, experts and communities are confronting the challenges.”

Gates said one of his biggest concerns is the impact of AI on employment.

According to him, increasingly capable AI systems are already able to perform many tasks traditionally carried out by humans, and businesses are likely to adopt the technology rapidly because it can potentially deliver work at a lower cost and with greater speed.

He warned that entry-level and mid-level jobs could be particularly vulnerable as companies become more comfortable relying on AI.

Fields such as software engineering, customer service, data analysis and some areas of healthcare could experience significant disruption, he said.

Gates also warned that the effect of automation would not be limited to office-based professions.

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The combination of AI and advanced robotics, he said, could eventually allow machines to perform increasingly sophisticated physical tasks, including lifting heavy materials and carrying out some construction-related activities.

He cautioned that the growing sophistication of robots should not be judged solely by viral videos showing machines performing simple tasks.

As robotics improves, Gates expects businesses to deploy machines capable of operating with little or no human supervision, potentially reducing demand for workers in some industries.

He said the rapid pace of change could create particular difficulties for young people entering the workforce if traditional entry-level positions used to gain experience begin disappearing.

Gates also expressed concern about what AI could mean for human intelligence and critical thinking.

He argued that people could become overly dependent on AI for information, decision-making and problem-solving, reducing their willingness or ability to evaluate information independently.

“This would be the worst possible time for humans to lose their critical thinking skills,” Gates wrote.

He said the threat is especially serious because AI is making it easier to produce sophisticated deepfakes and personalised misinformation.

As fake videos, images, audio and written material become increasingly convincing, Gates warned that people will need stronger critical-thinking skills to determine what is genuine and what is fabricated.

He said the ability to distinguish fact from falsehood could become one of the most important skills in the AI era.

Beyond jobs and misinformation, Gates raised concerns about AI and national security.

He warned that increasingly sophisticated AI tools could lower the level of expertise required by criminals and hostile actors seeking to cause harm.

According to Gates, information about producing biological weapons, explosives and malicious computer programmes has existed for years, but AI could make it easier for people with limited technical knowledge to find, process and apply dangerous information.

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“Even criminals with very limited skills will be able to target victims at every scale,” he wrote.

Gates also warned that advanced AI could eventually present a more fundamental challenge if systems become capable of operating independently and pursuing objectives that conflict with human interests.

The concern, he suggested, is not simply that AI could make mistakes, but that increasingly autonomous systems could become difficult for people to supervise effectively.

However, Gates stressed that he does not believe AI should be abandoned.

Instead, he argued that society must ensure that the technology is developed in ways that maximise its benefits while limiting its potential harm.

In healthcare, Gates said AI could help doctors and medical workers make faster and more accurate diagnoses, particularly in places where specialist expertise is unavailable.

He cited hospitals without on-site specialists as an example, saying AI could help identify life-threatening conditions quickly and potentially improve patient outcomes.

AI could also assist medical researchers by organising scientific literature and helping professionals process large amounts of information more efficiently.

Gates believes agriculture could also benefit substantially from AI, particularly in low-income countries.

AI tools could help farmers access information, improve decision-making and respond more effectively to challenges affecting crops and productivity.

Education is another area where Gates sees significant potential.

He said AI could help teachers identify students’ weaknesses, provide personalised assistance and reduce some administrative workloads, allowing educators to devote more time to direct interaction with learners.

But Gates warned that the benefits of AI will not automatically reach everyone.

He said governments need to ensure that the technology does not widen existing inequalities by concentrating economic gains among large corporations and highly skilled workers.

One of his proposals is to consider taxes on AI and robots.

Gates has argued that businesses currently have financial incentives to replace human workers with machines because automation can reduce labour costs.

A tax on AI-related activity or robots, he suggested, could slow the pace of job displacement while providing governments with revenue to retrain affected workers and strengthen social support programmes.

He also suggested that governments should consider restricting or regulating AI adoption in certain areas where replacing humans could have unacceptable consequences.

Another idea Gates has proposed is the creation of “Human Reserved” jobs — roles where humans would remain responsible because empathy, judgment and personal interaction are central to the work.

He cited caregiving as an example, arguing that some roles involving vulnerable people should retain a strong human component even as AI becomes increasingly capable.

Gates said countries could ultimately make different decisions depending on their economic and demographic circumstances.

A country facing a severe shortage of caregivers, for example, might be more willing to use robots to supplement human workers.

The technology billionaire also called for stronger AI regulation and international cooperation.

He argued that governments need to prepare for the possibility that AI will affect virtually every major part of society, including employment, healthcare, education, national security, taxation and communication.

Gates believes governments should develop policies before the disruption becomes widespread rather than attempting to respond after large numbers of people have already lost their jobs.

The discussion comes as governments and technology companies around the world race to develop increasingly powerful AI systems.

While companies continue to invest billions of dollars in the technology, policymakers are facing growing pressure to address concerns about job displacement, misinformation, privacy, cybersecurity and the long-term control of advanced AI.

Gates’ warning is therefore not a call to stop technological development but an argument for preparing society for its consequences.

He believes AI could dramatically improve living standards, particularly by expanding access to healthcare, education and scientific knowledge, but only if its development is accompanied by appropriate safeguards.

The former Microsoft chief’s position reflects the growing tension surrounding AI: the same technology capable of helping doctors diagnose illnesses, supporting farmers and improving education could also disrupt employment, amplify misinformation and create new security risks.

For Gates, the crucial question is whether governments and societies can adapt quickly enough.

He warned that the choices made during the early stages of the AI revolution could determine whether the technology becomes a powerful tool for human progress or a major source of economic and social instability.

Gates’ representative also reportedly confirmed that he did not use AI to write the essay, underscoring his argument that humans must continue to play a central role in thinking, decision-making and shaping the technology’s future.

Bill Gates warns AI could cause mass job losses, weaken critical thinking

‘Give Me My Child Back’: Grief, Fury After Pakistan Hospital Fire Kills 14 Newborns

It was just after dawn on Wednesday morning at the maternity ward of Pakistan’s largest public hospital when a horrific blaze erupted, turning a place of new beginnings into a scene of unimaginable tragedy. Within hours, 14 newborn infants were dead, and anguished parents were demanding answers. The fire broke out around 6:00 a.m. local time on August 26, 2026, at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. The blaze originated in an air-conditioning unit on the third floor of the mother and child unit, but officials have since confirmed it was exacerbated by nearby oxygen cylinders, which caused rapid and ferocious spread of the flames. The victims were infants just days or hours old, many in incubators or reliant on oxygen support. Only one of the 15 babies in the ward survived and was transferred to intensive care.

Hivsa Walid was at the hospital with her sister-in-law, who had given birth just days earlier. She initially heard a shout and thought a patient had died — but then she saw smoke. “We didn’t even think about our belongings. We just grabbed the baby and rushed downstairs. Some patients had delivered their babies just that night. I don’t even know how we managed to get down — it was all a blur.” Abdul Ghafoor, another witness, described the desperate scenes outside the building. He tried to enter to rescue patients but could not reach the maternity ward. “There was thick black smoke inside and patients were trapped. Rescue teams arrived after almost two hours.” He added that bystanders had to “break the door down” and rescue teams were forced to smash windows to control the flames.

Perhaps the most devastating accusation to emerge from the tragedy is the claim that the ward’s door was locked at the time of the fire. Jaweria, a mother who lost her baby in the blaze, told AFP news agency: “For two hours I kept crying and wailing. Police arrived after four hours and said they are here to investigate. To hell with you, rescue team and police. Babies burnt to death there, but nobody could save them.” Khurram Mehmood, 40, who lost his three-day-old daughter, also expressed fury at the delayed response: “The fire erupted at 6:00 am, rescue and authorities reached at 9:00 am, people were helping themselves… I lost my daughter. She was only three days old.”

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Rana Imran Sikander, the hospital’s executive director, has strongly contested the locked-door claims. He told the BBC that the ward’s door was not locked but was manned, citing the need to protect babies from being stolen — a concern that has arisen previously at government hospitals. However, the father of another baby who died told Reuters that the building had serious structural flaws: “No fire security, no proper exits. All doors were closed, only one door was for us to visit our children. They kept the other doors locked because they feared we would come to see our children too often.” Walid, who escaped with her sister-in-law’s baby, also suggested that safety protocols at PIMS were inadequate: “There should have been fire extinguishers and protocols, but no one was doing anything — everyone was just running.”

The tragedy has prompted swift action from Pakistan’s highest authorities. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed “deep sorrow and heartfelt regret” over the loss of life, calling it “irreparable” and “heartbreaking”. He ordered an immediate investigation and subsequently suspended Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri, one of the country’s top health officials. President Asif Ali Zardari also released a statement, describing the deaths as “heartbreaking” and an “irreparable loss”.

A formal inquiry committee has been constituted to investigate the tragedy. According to a notification from the Prime Minister’s Office, committee members include Shahid Khan (retired Federal Secretary) as Chairperson, along with Major General (retd) Dr. Khursheed Uttra, Dr. Barrister Nabeel Ahmed Awan, and the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad. The committee has been given strict deadlines: it must submit an interim report within 48 hours and a comprehensive report with recommendations within five days. Its terms of reference include determining the exact cause of the fire, reviewing the hospital’s emergency response, assessing fire safety infrastructure at PIMS, identifying individuals responsible for negligence, and recommending measures to prevent future tragedies.

The PIMS tragedy is not an isolated incident. Pakistan has witnessed several major fires in recent years, with poor safety laws, inadequate building codes, and lax enforcement often blamed for high death tolls. In January 2026, a fire at a Karachi shopping mall killed dozens. Survivors of that blaze also reported that locked exits contributed to the fatalities — a chilling parallel to the current tragedy.

The fallout from the PIMS fire has already prompted broader safety reviews across the country. The Punjab Healthcare Commission has issued urgent directives for the effective implementation of fire safety measures in hospitals across Punjab province. It has called for regular emergency drills, functional firefighting equipment, and trained personnel at all healthcare facilities. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered a 24-hour safety audit of all public hospitals in the province. Instructions have been given to check fire safety systems, emergency exits, firefighting equipment, and staff preparedness.

The 14 infants who perished in the fire were among Pakistan’s most vulnerable citizens — newborns who had just entered the world and were receiving medical care for their earliest days of life. Their names have not been publicly released, but their grieving families have spoken of babies who were only days or hours old. One father, still in shock, told reporters: “She was only three days old. We brought her here for care. We never imagined we would be taking her home in a coffin.”

The 48-hour interim report from the inquiry committee is expected to provide preliminary findings on the cause of the fire and the immediate circumstances surrounding it. The final report, due within five days, will offer a fuller picture and recommendations. For the families of the victims, however, no report can bring back their children. Their grief is compounded by anger — at the delay in rescue, at the alleged locked door, and at a system they believe failed the most innocent lives. The Pakistani government is now under immense pressure to ensure accountability and to implement lasting safety reforms across the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

‘Give Me My Child Back’: Grief, Fury After Pakistan Hospital Fire Kills 14 Newborns