In brief
Northeastern Nepal declared a national day of mourning after a catastrophic flash flood that killed at least 1,287 people and left more than 5,000 missing. Flags flew at half‑mast and citizens lit candles to honour victims, while the final day of the 13‑day Hindu mourning ritual was observed. Rescuers continue to search for survivors, including in tunnels at hydropower sites, with support from international experts. President Ram Chandra Paudel toured damaged villages and urged continued search efforts. The tragedy highlights the vulnerability of Himalayan communities to glacial collapse and extreme weather.
In a solemn ceremony on Monday, citizens of Nepal lighted candles to mark the final day of the 13‑day Hindu mourning period for families affected by the flash flood that struck the Himalayan valley on the border with Tibet. Flags were lowered to half‑mast across the country, and the nation paused to grieve.
The disaster, believed to have been triggered by a glacial collapse, resulted in at least 1,287 confirmed deaths. Ongoing search missions have yet to locate over 5,000 missing people, prompting authorities to continue intensive rescue operations.
Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet reported that the focus remains on ground, aerial, and tunnel‑based searches. Rescue teams are scrambling to rescue workers trapped underground in hydropower tunnels, with international experts advising on safe extraction.
President Ram Chandra Paudel toured the devastated region, emphasizing government support for affected communities. The Home Ministry announced that embassies abroad would observe the same half‑mast gesture.
Prior to the day’s protests, a 64‑year‑old woman was found alive in a partially buried house in Nuwakot district and transported to a hospital in Kathmandu. In contrast, a Chinese-backed excavation recovered twelve bodies on the Tibetan side of the border.
With the situation still fluid, it remains unclear how many more lives may be saved, but authorities remain committed to leaving no one stranded.
