Nepal mourns flood victims as families cling to hope for the missing

KATHMANDU: Nepal ushered in a day of national mourning on Monday for the victims of catastrophic glacial floods that swept across the country on August 26. The disaster, which claimed at least 1,398 lives, has left over 5,500 people missing, including a significant number of foreign nationals. As Buddhist monks conducted a 13th-day ritual at a damaged house in Dhunge, Nuwakot, families of the missing workers prayed for their loved ones, fearing they may still be trapped in the tunnels. Flags were flown at half-mast, and candlelight vigils were planned to pay tribute to the deceased.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with Nepal Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet stating that the search and rescue operation is continuing at the same pace as the first day. The focus is on finding survivors on the ground, by air, and inside the tunnels. Australian tunnel rescue expert Arnold Dix, who is advising Nepali teams, described the situation as unprecedented, highlighting the multiple rescue operations taking place simultaneously, each with its own risks and uncertainties.

Foreign experts from China, India, and South Korea are assisting the Nepali teams in their rescue efforts.

Mortuaries are overflowing, and hundreds of bodies have been buried in mass graves after DNA samples were taken for future identification. Only around 100 bodies have been identified and returned to families. The total cost of rebuilding communities and restoring critical infrastructure is estimated to reach billions of dollars.

The disaster has occurred just before the anniversary of anti-corruption protests that ousted the previous government, placing a heavy burden on a young government already grappling with limited resources. A preliminary UN assessment puts the damage from the floods at US$158 million, with the total losses expected to be far higher, including losses to roads, bridges, agricultural land, and humanitarian costs. The UN has appealed for US$50 million in aid to help over 84,000 people affected by the disaster.