Nepal holds national day of mourning for victims of flash flood disaster

Nepalis observed a national day of mourning for the victims of the flash flood on Monday, lighting candles to mark the last day of the traditional 13-day Hindu mourning period.

While flags were flown at half mast, commemorations were scaled back as rescue teams continue to search for survivors. Candlelight vigils were planned for Monday evening.

At least 1,287 people are known to have died after a flash flood, believed to have been triggered by a glacial collapse, swept through villages in a Himalayan valley along border between Nepal and Tibet.

Almost two weeks later, more than 5,000 people are still missing.

Phanindra Paudel of the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) told the Reuters news agency that there would be “no government programmes organised as the rescue and search operation is still going on in the flood-hit areas.”

Nepal’s president, Ram Chandra Paudel, toured areas devastated by the floods on Monday, an aide told Reuters.

The home ministry said that government offices, as well as missions abroad, would fly the national flag at half mast to mark the final day of the mourning period.