Kathmandu: Nepal is observing a day of national mourning today in memory of those who lost their lives in the devastating flood that struck the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa on Bhadra 10.
The Council of Ministers, meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar on Bhadra 18, decided to observe national mourning in honor of the flood victims. Accordingly, the national flag will be flown at half-mast at government offices across Nepal as well as at Nepali embassies and diplomatic missions abroad.
According to the latest information released by Nepal Police on Sunday evening, 1,342 bodies have been recovered following the disaster, while 3,992 people remain missing.
Of the recovered bodies, 530 are men and 328 are women. Another 495 bodies remain unidentified. Among those still missing in Nepal, 2,827 are men and 567 are women. The missing foreign nationals include 267 men and 239 women.
Search and rescue operations are continuing in the affected areas, alongside efforts to identify and manage the recovered bodies. Police said 1,044 bodies have so far been buried and safely managed, while procedures for identifying and handling the remaining bodies are underway.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that 13,399 people have been rescued from various flood-affected districts. Thousands of personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force are continuing rescue operations despite difficult terrain, blocked roads and dangerous river currents.
According to authority spokesperson Shanti Mahat, 21,465 security personnel have been deployed for search, rescue and relief operations. Nepal Army aircraft have conducted 1,045 flights, while private-sector aircraft have made 129 flights to support rescue and relief efforts.
Holding centers have been established in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading to temporarily accommodate rescued people. 3,912 people are currently staying at these centers. Authorities have also intensified medical services for injured and affected residents, with 6,073 people receiving healthcare so far.
DNA testing has been prioritized to identify missing people and establish the identities of recovered bodies. Police said DNA samples have been collected from 2,376 people, including 1,181 deceased individuals and 1,195 relatives of victims.
Teams from Nepal Police, Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and other government agencies remain deployed in the disaster-hit areas to continue the search for missing people, rescue operations, identification of bodies and their proper management.
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