Nepal Observes National Mourning on 13th Day of Flash Flood Tragedy

Nepal observed a national day of mourning on Monday as the death toll from the country’s devastating flash flood disaster rose to 1,355, with rescue teams continuing a desperate search for nearly 5,000 people still missing.

The national mourning came on the 13th day after the catastrophe, in keeping with the traditional Hindu practice of observing the thirteenth day following a death. The government directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast at government offices across Nepal and at Nepali diplomatic missions abroad in honour of those who lost their lives.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 4,996 people remain missing, including at least 589 foreign nationals, while 13,396 people have been rescued so far.

The disaster struck on August 26 after an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border triggered massive flash floods that tore through Rasuwa and several other districts. The surging waters of the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems swept away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges and inflicted extensive damage on hydropower projects and other critical infrastructure.

The scale of the devastation has emerged district by district. Authorities have recovered 363 bodies in Chitwan, 221 in Nawalparasi West, 222 in Nawalparasi East, 197 in Nuwakot and 169 in Rasuwa, among other affected areas.

The joint command of Nepal’s security forces remains engaged in search and rescue operations, particularly at hydropower project tunnels, where hundreds of people are feared trapped. Specialist teams from India and China are assisting Nepali rescuers in some of the most difficult operations.

At least 32,000 families have been displaced, while around 7,500 houses were completely destroyed, leaving communities struggling to rebuild their lives.

The tragedy has also spilled across the border, with at least 21 deaths reported on the Chinese side and more than 500 people still missing in Tibet, according to Chinese media reports.

As Nepal mourned its dead, rescue teams continued their race against time to find survivors and recover those still missing.