Nepal Flash Floods – August 2026: What You Need to Know

As of 26 August 2026, local news in Nepal has reported severe flash flooding of the Trishuli river with the floodwaters sweeping through the Timure and Syabrubesi areas of the Rasuwa district.

Local authorities report that over 150 people have been confirmed dead and over 350 tourists are currently unaccounted for.

The flooding has caused extensive damage to power stations, markets and other infrastructure near the river. Rescue efforts have been hampered due to the damage caused.

If you have been directly affected and need medical assistance, call our 24-hour emergency assistance team immediately on +61 2 8907 5619. It’s important to also monitor updates from local media and emergency services.

Policy coverage
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For policies/trips with a Relevant Time before 27 August 2026, here’s what you may be able to claim if this event has disrupted your plans. Claims will be assessed as per the terms and conditions outlined in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS):

• Medical Expenses
  You’re covered for immediate medical treatment if you're injured during the event.

• Additional Expenses
  If you are already on your trip, you may claim for reasonable additional accommodation (room rate only) and transport within the terms and limits stated in your PDS, if your travel plans are directly
  affected by this event.
  

• Amendment or Cancellation Costs
  If your policy includes this cover, you can claim for:
  
  • The non-refundable part of pre-paid, unused travel bookings directly impacted by this event.
  • The costs to amend your plans before your trip starts – but only if the amendment costs are less than cancelling altogether.
  • There is no cover for parts of your trip you have already used.

Making Your Claim
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When submitting a claim:

• Keep all itemised receipts for any extra costs or purchases.
• Ask your travel provider for a letter explaining the reason and duration of any delays.
• Lodge your claim via one of the options here.

What’s Not Covered
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There's no cover for:

• Costs where your travel plans were not directly affected by this event.
• Upgraded travel costs (such as a higher fare class than your original booking).
• Travel arrangements you’ve already used.
• Costs that exceed the limits stated in your PDS.

For policies/trips with a Relevant Time from 27 August 2026, this event is no longer considered "unforeseeable”. As such, your policy does not cover claims relating to it. If you need to adjust your plans, we recommend contacting your travel agent or transport provider promptly to minimise any extra costs.

Important points regarding cover
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• You won’t be covered for events that had already occurred at the relevant time of your policy/trip
• You also won’t be covered for events that you knew were going to impact your travel at the relevant time of your policy/trip

Free Extension of Insurance
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If the relevant time of your current trip is before 27 August 2026 and this event prevents you from returning home before your policy ends, your policy will extend for free until you are able to return home as soon as it becomes possible.

Important general advice
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Always read this information with your PDS. The PDS will explain all the conditions, limits, and exclusions in detail. Pay close attention to the sections on “Benefits,” “Policy Conditions,” and “General Exclusions.”

Need Help?
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For travel or medical emergencies, call our 24-hour emergency team on +61 2 8907 5988.

For general enquiries about this event, contact our Customer Service team on 1300 772 183

• Monday to Friday: 7am – 7pm AEDT

If you’d like to talk to our claims team, you can find out how and when to contact them here.

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