Nepal holds a day of mourning after floods kill at least 1,300 people

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Nepal observed a day of mourning on Monday to commemorate the victims of the floods that occurred on August 26, with flags flown at half-staff at government buildings and families concluding their 13-day mourning rituals. The flooding claimed over 1,300 lives and left around 5,000 people missing, including foreigners, according to Nepal's disaster management agency.

In Hindu-majority Nepal, mourning periods last 13 days during which family members stay at home, and relatives pay respects. Rituals are performed on the final day to honor the departed souls. Symbolic funerals were held for families whose relatives were still missing. The government declared Monday as an official day of mourning and ordered flags at government offices to be flown at half-staff.

Despite the government's efforts, search and rescue operations for the missing continued to face criticism. In Kathmandu, relatives gathered near the offices of the prime minister and key ministries, demanding a faster response to rescue hundreds of workers who were either swept away by the Bhotekhoshi River or buried under debris.

Many families expressed their frustration, feeling that the government had not done enough to expedite the rescue efforts. Candlelight vigils were held in various parts of Kathmandu in memory of those who lost their lives during the floods. Rescue operations have been concentrated on 12 hydropower projects, where about 900 workers are still missing, with roughly 500 believed to be trapped in tunnels.

Specialized rescue teams from India, China, South Korea, and the United States have been working tirelessly to recover the trapped individuals from the debris, damaged structures, and tunnels. Two Nepalese workers were rescued from one of the plants on Friday, and another Chinese worker was pulled out on Saturday.