Nepal requires foreign journalists to obtain accreditation in flood-hit areas

Foreign journalists seeking to report from flood-affected areas along Nepal’s Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers must now obtain a Press Accreditation and Journalist Identity Card from the Department of Information and Broadcasting.

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Based on the application and supporting documents submitted, the Director General of the Department will issue the Press Accreditation and Journalist Identity Card.

The government notice requires applicants to apply through the department’s online service and provide a passport copy with a valid visa or entry permit. They must also submit a recommendation from their media organization and a letter from the embassy, consular office or foreign ministry of their country. The department said its director general would issue the accreditation after reviewing the application and supporting documents.

The accreditation will remain valid for 15 days under a departmental decision dated September 2, 2026. The notice, issued on September 3, also said a help desk would assist foreign journalists with the application process.

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If you need any help or assistance during the process, a help desk will be available at the DoIB to assist you.

The new requirement comes as authorities issue alerts along river basins in mountainous Gorkha district. A flood in the Therang River swept away four houses and a suspension bridge in Chumanubri Rural Municipality. District police chief Rajkumar Shrestha said no casualties were reported because residents reached safety after noticing the rising water. The destroyed bridge is expected to create difficulties for tourists trekking in the Manaslu region.

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No casualties were reported in the incident.

The article also cited Nepal Police figures showing that floods and landslides across the Himalayan nation had killed 1,341 people, although a later update revised the toll to 1,331 as search and rescue operations continued.

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The residents managed to flee to safety after learning about the rising floodwaters. The suspension bridge in the area was also swept away by the river.