Daijiworld Media Network - Kathmandu
Kathmandu, Sep 7: Nepal on Monday observed a national day of mourning on the 13th day of the devastating Rasuwa flash flood disaster, honouring more than 1,340 people who lost their lives in one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history.
Nearly 5,000 people remain missing, including 589 foreign nationals, after flash floods struck Rasuwa, which borders China, and adjoining districts on August 26 following an ice-rock avalanche in the high Himalayas. The disaster caused extensive loss of life and widespread damage to infrastructure across northern and central Nepal.
The government declared September 7 a national day of mourning to honour victims of the catastrophic floods that swept through Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and other areas along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems.
The observance comes on the 13th day after the disaster, in keeping with the traditional Hindu practice of marking the thirteenth day following a death. The day holds significance in many Hindu communities, when rituals are performed to honour the deceased and formally conclude the mourning period.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said the national flag would be flown at half-mast at government offices across Nepal and at Nepali diplomatic missions abroad.
The floods destroyed homes, roads, bridges, hydropower projects, government offices and other critical infrastructure, leaving thousands of families displaced and disrupting livelihoods across the affected areas.
Search and rescue operations are continuing in the worst-hit areas, including hydropower project tunnels, with the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and other agencies involved in locating missing people and recovering bodies. Specialised international rescue teams have also joined the efforts, while teams from neighbouring countries, including India, are assisting in operations to rescue people believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels.
At least 32,000 families have been displaced, while around 7,500 houses have been completely destroyed, according to the authorities. The disaster has also severely affected transportation, power infrastructure and other essential services in central Nepal.
Meanwhile, Nepal has declared Tuesday, September 8, a public holiday to mark Gen Z Martyrs’ Day, commemorating the youth-led protests that erupted in Kathmandu a year ago.
The protests began over the government’s decision to ban social media platforms, allegations of corruption and what demonstrators described as the lavish lifestyles of the children of influential politicians and government officials.
The agitation turned violent after security personnel opened fire near the Parliament building, killing 72 people, including children. The unrest eventually led to the resignation of then-prime minister K P Sharma Oli and the collapse of the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress-led government.
Parliament was subsequently dissolved and a caretaker government was formed. Fresh parliamentary elections were held on March 5 this year, bringing the Gen Z-backed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by Rabi Lamichhane, to power with an almost two-thirds majority.
Former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah subsequently became prime minister, marking a major political shift following the youth-led movement.