Nepal police have arrested at least 29 people for stealing as deadly flash floods ravage the country, killing over 500 and leaving thousands missing.

The police confirmed the arrest of 29 people caught stealing from a safe box washed away by the floods.

“29 arrested for breaking into and stealing cash from a safe brought by floodwaters,” the police said, posting a photo of those arrested. 

Police said a safe containing money, washed away by the flood in Bhotekoshi, Rasuwa, was found on the banks of the Trishuli River in Ward No. 4, Belkhukhola, Dhading District, Galchhi Rural Municipality. 

“Local people vandalised the safe and stole an unknown amount of cash inside the safe,” the police said.

“A large sum was recovered from their possession. Necessary investigations are being conducted to determine the source of the cash and other possible persons who may have been involved in the incident, and further investigation is being conducted on the seized cash and the persons taken into custody,” the police added.

In a separate case, two other rogues were arrested for dragging a floating corpse from the flood and cutting gold earrings from it. 

Meanwhile, Nepal authorities said over 500 people have been killed, over 1,500 injured, while over 1,000 people are still missing after the flood tore through communities within the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday.

The devastating flash flood from the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa ravaged riverine areas in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and other communities, causing loss of lives, displacement, and cases of missing persons.