Nepal marks 13th day of flood tragedy with national mourning

Kathmandu: Nepal observed a national day of mourning on Monday, 13 days after deadly flash floods along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems claimed more than 1,340 lives and left thousands missing.

The government declared September 7 a day of national mourning following a Cabinet decision on September 3, with the national flag flown at half-mast at all government offices across Nepal and at Nepali diplomatic missions abroad.

Security forces and other agencies continued large-scale search, rescue and recovery operations as the country marked the 13th day since the August 26 disaster, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche in the high Himalayas that sent a wall of water and debris through Rasuwa and adjoining districts.

By Sunday evening, Nepal Police reported that 1,353 bodies had been recovered, including 530 men and 328 women, with 495 bodies recovered in parts and remaining unidentified. Of the recovered bodies, 1,044 had been buried, while identification and management of the rest were ongoing. Nearly 5,000 people remained out of contact, including about 595 foreign nationals from dozens of countries, according to police and foreign ministry updates.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah issued a message on social media on Monday, urging elderly flood survivors not to feel abandoned and assuring them that “the state is with you, and the government is with you.” In an emotional statement, he described how elderly parents had fled to higher ground clutching grandchildren with trembling hands, and noted that even those who could barely walk without support had found “extraordinary strength” to save their children during the floods.

Search and rescue efforts have remained focused on hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridors, where hundreds of workers are still unaccounted for. The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) said 919 people employed at 11 hydropower projects were out of contact as of Sunday evening.

There have been some successful rescues, including two Nepali nationals from the 60-MW Upper Trishuli 3A project on September 4 and a Chinese national from the 216-MW Upper Trishuli-1 project on September 5.