Nepal observes day of mourning for victims of August floods

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal held a day of mourning on September 7, 2026, to remember those killed in the floods that occurred on August 26. Flags were lowered at government offices, and families completed mourning rituals. The floods resulted in over 1,300 deaths in Nepal and Tibet, with approximately 5,000 people reported missing, according to Nepal's disaster management agency. In Nepal, mourning periods last for 13 days, during which close family members remain at home while relatives visit to pay their respects. On the final day, rituals are performed to pray for the souls of the deceased. Several families whose relatives are still missing conducted symbolic funerals, as cremation is a significant rite in Hindu tradition. The government declared September 7 an official day of mourning, ordering flags at government offices to be flown at half-staff. Search efforts for the missing continued, although some individuals protested the perceived inadequacy of the response. In Kathmandu, relatives gathered near the prime minister's office and key ministries to urge the government to expedite search and rescue operations for hundreds of workers at hydropower plants who were swept away or buried under debris. Sumana Shrestha, whose husband has been missing since the flood, expressed frustration over the lack of rescue attempts at the Trishuli hydropower plant site. Another protester, Mahesh Prasad Shrestha, criticized the slow response from authorities. Candlelight vigils were held across Kathmandu in memory of the victims. Rescue operations have concentrated on 12 hydropower projects, where around 900 workers are missing and about 500 are believed to be trapped in tunnels. Specialized rescue teams from India, China, South Korea, and the United States have been involved in the search efforts. Two Nepalese workers were rescued from the plant on Friday, and a Chinese man was rescued on Saturday.