Nepal Holds National Mourning Day After Deadly Floods

By Aurax Radio | September 7, 2026 | 2 min read

Nepal observed a national day of mourning Monday after catastrophic flooding and mudslides killed at least 1,380 people and left more than 5,500 missing. Rescue teams continued searching for survivors as families completed traditional 13-day mourning rituals.

Rescue workers search through mud and debris after catastrophic flooding in Nepal.

Rescue workers continue searching for survivors and missing people following the catastrophic floods near Nepal’s border with China.

Nepal lowered national flags to half-mast Monday as the country marked the final day of traditional Hindu mourning for victims of the disaster. The flooding began Aug. 26 after a glacier collapse near the Nepal-China border sent a massive surge of mud, rock and water through communities in the Himalayan region, destroying homes, roads and other infrastructure. Authorities have continued to search areas where people remain missing, while President Ram Chandra Paudel toured affected communities to assess the damage.

The rescue operation has continued despite the enormous scale of the destruction. Teams have concentrated on several hydropower facilities where hundreds of workers remain unaccounted for, with recent rescues of four people offering renewed hope that others could still be alive. International assistance has also supported the search, while Chinese authorities continue recovery operations on the Tibetan side of the border. The government has avoided large public ceremonies on the mourning day so rescue and recovery efforts can continue.

For many families, the final mourning rituals have taken place without the bodies of loved ones who remain missing. Some have held symbolic funerals in accordance with Hindu tradition, while relatives have gathered near government offices seeking greater information and continued search efforts. The disaster has left thousands of people facing the loss of homes, livelihoods and family members as Nepal moves from emergency rescue operations toward a long and difficult recovery.

Sources: Reuters and The Associated Press, BBC

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