Funerals in Nepal for missing, a week after deadly floods

A week after deadly floods swept away villages and homes in the Himalayan region, Nepali families have held symbolic funeral ceremonies to liberate the souls of loved ones missing since the disaster. Emergency teams have recovered over 1,000 bodies, and nearly 4,500 people remain missing after a high-altitude glacial collapse triggered by climate change surged down the China-Nepal border on August 26.

Relatives of some missing individuals have begun conducting last rites, expressing their hope for closure and peace for their departed loved ones. In a week since the colossal disaster, rescuers in Nepal remain hopeful about finding survivors, particularly in tunnels of hydropower plants across the region. Despite overcoming obstacles such as debris and blocked tunnels, teams continue to dig, drill, and blast through the rubble in search of survivors.

Nepali Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal expressed his desire for miracles, stating that he does not wish to completely give up hope. Prime Minister Balendra Shah emphasized that the catastrophe highlights the increasing risks faced in the Himalayan region due to climate change, a global concern that necessitates international responsibility.

Scientists warn that the Himalayas, the world's highest mountain range, are warming rapidly, accelerating glacier melt and serving as a crucial water source for millions of people in mountainous and surrounding regions. The scale of destruction in Nepal, a largely rural nation of 30 million people, has left the country grappling with unprecedented challenges.

The reconstruction costs are feared to run into billions of dollars, with Nepal's already strained economy struggling to respond to the disaster. Despite China's reported 16 dead and 546 missing, the overall death toll has risen to 1,066, with 4,462 people still unaccounted for. Across the border in India, at least 17 bodies have been recovered from rivers downstream.

Chinese state media acknowledged road access to hard-hit Gyirong Port in Tibet was restored only after days of repair work. While Nepal's disaster response faces significant challenges, the nation remains determined to find answers and provide solace to its grieving citizens.