As death toll rises, Nepalis turn to prayer and hope after devastating floods
KATHMANDU — White smoke billowed over the banks of the Bagmati River running through the Nepalese capital. A Hindu funeral ritual was underway, in which the deceased were washed in the sacred river before being cremated and their ashes returned to the water. As victims of the devastating floods continued to arrive, the smoke had grown noticeably thicker over the past several days. On Tuesday, a…
Kathmandu, Nepal experienced a tragic week as devastating floods claimed more lives, leaving families distraught. The Bagmati River, which flows through the capital, became a site of both mourning and religious ritual. Hindu funeral ceremonies took place at the Pashupatinath Temple, with bodies being washed in the sacred river before being cremated.
The thick white smoke that billowed over the riverbanks was a grim reminder of the ongoing tragedy. By Tuesday, a week after the floods, the Hankook Ilbo reported that all 12 cremation platforms at the temple were in use. The site, a revered pilgrimage destination, was engulfed in dense smoke as firewood crackled and flames rose into the air.
Each body, carefully prepared and transported on stretchers, was met with weeping family members who performed the final rites by washing the body in the river. An Indian man, among those whose relatives had perished, was visibly overwhelmed, struggling to contain his grief.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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