Flags fly at half-mast as the country marks a national day of mourning 13 days after devastating floods…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Nepal observed a national day of mourning on Monday in memory of victims of the devastating flash floods that struck the Bhote Koshi River region in Rasuwa district nearly two weeks ago.
The decision to observe the day of mourning was taken at a Cabinet meeting on September 3, with national flags flown at half-mast at government offices across the country as well as Nepali embassies and diplomatic missions overseas.
Search and recovery operations have continued since the disaster struck on August 26, leaving a trail of destruction and thousands of people unaccounted for.
According to Nepal Police, 1,353 bodies had been recovered by Sunday evening. The victims included 530 men and 328 women, while 495 bodies were recovered in parts and remain unidentified.
Authorities said 1,044 bodies had been buried, while efforts to identify and manage the remaining victims were continuing.
Police also reported that 3,992 people remained out of contact, including 595 foreign nationals, underlining the scale of one of the country’s worst recent natural disasters.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah paid tribute to the victims and offered reassurance to elderly survivors struggling in the aftermath of the catastrophe.
“You are not alone. The state is with you, and the government is with you,” Shah said in a message posted on social media.
In an emotional appeal, the Prime Minister recalled scenes of elderly people fleeing to higher ground while clutching their grandchildren, often placing the safety of younger family members before their own.
He said even those who struggled to walk without support had found extraordinary strength during the disaster to save their loved ones.
Meanwhile, security agencies continued extensive search and rescue operations, focusing particularly on hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors, where hundreds of workers remain unaccounted for.
The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) said that 919 people employed at 11 hydropower projects were still out of contact as of Sunday evening.
There have, however, been isolated moments of hope amid the devastation.
Two Nepali nationals were rescued alive from the 60MW Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower project on September 4, followed by the rescue of a Chinese national from the 216MW Upper Trishuli-1 project a day later.
As Nepal mourned its dead, rescue teams continued to search devastated river corridors and damaged infrastructure for signs of survivors, while authorities faced the enormous task of identifying victims and supporting thousands displaced or affected by the disaster.
