Funerals in Nepal for missing, a week after deadly floods

Nepali families held funerals on Wednesday to liberate the souls of relatives missing since deadly flash floods swept through their Himalayan villages a week earlier. Relatives made Kush grass effigies for cremation in accordance with Nepali Hindu rites during the symbolic funerals held at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. Emergency teams have recovered over 1,100 bodies, with nearly 4,500 people still reported missing after the catastrophic wave of freezing water, rocks, and debris caused by a high-altitude glacial collapse on August 26.

Relatives of some of the missing began conducting last rites, burning straw effigies in Hindu rituals as hope dwindled. Dolma Newar Tamang, whose husband was en route to China when the disaster struck, said, "We had to do this to set his soul free, so that he is at peace and happy wherever he is." Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal still hoped some missing could be alive, stating, "Miracles do happen."

The country, largely rural with 30 million people, faced global anger over the scale of destruction. Prime Minister Balendra Shah warned the catastrophe signaled risks the Himalayan nation faces due to climate change. Scientists say the Himalayas are warming rapidly, accelerating glacier melt. Nepal has limited resources for reconstruction, costing billions of dollars.

China reported 16 dead and 546 missing, while Nepal reported 1,114 bodies recovered and 3,916 people still missing. Over 800 foreigners from 30 nations are among the missing, including tourists and Hindu pilgrims seeking spiritual peace at Mount Kailash.