Kathmandu – Nepal is observing a national day of mourning today, September 7, the 13th day since the disaster of August 26, following the catastrophic floods of the Bhote Koshi, . The floods were triggered by the collapse of a glacier and an ice avalanche along the border between Nepal and China . The Nepalese government scheduled the national day of mourning for this date because of its strong cultural significance, in keeping with the traditional Hindu practice of commemorating the 13th day following a death.
Citizens across the country, including people of other faiths, are joining in mourning and prayer. Nepal’s Catholics, around 10,000, are also taking part spiritually.
“We are united in prayer for our people and our nation. We are saddened, but we must find the strength to roll up our sleeves and respond to the humanitarian emergency and begin the recovery,” Father Pius Perumana, a priest of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nepal, told Fides.
“As Catholics in Nepal, we note that some faithful are missing, of whom there is no news. Although the government lists them as missing, there is a fear that they may have lost their lives. The government estimates that more than 5,000 people remain missing,” he said, as rescue efforts continue and the humanitarian response has been mobilized across the country.
“Many areas remain inaccessible due to the impervious terrain in the higher areas, with roads swept away and bridges destroyed. We still do not have a definitive figure for the number of dead and missing. The death toll is rising as more and more bodies are recovered. It may not be possible to recover all of them,” Father Perumana noted.
“The number of missing people is also only a rough estimate; it will take several more days to obtain a more reliable figure. Caritas Nepal, on behalf of the Catholic Church, has mobilized its members and is involved in relief operations. Salesian and Jesuit religious, together with members of other Catholic congregations, are also working to reach those most in need and the most vulnerable,” Father Pius Perumana said.
He added: “I would like to say that we are very grateful to the Holy Father for his message of condolence and for the prayers he has assured us of at this time of great national tragedy. His spiritual closeness and words of comfort are a great source of consolation for us.”
Meanwhile, search, rescue and recovery operations are continuing. More than 1,300 bodies have been recovered, while around 5,000 people remain missing, including approximately 600 foreigners from some 35 countries. More than 13,100 people have been rescued, including over 300 foreigners. Among those rescued were people found alive inside tunnels and buildings at hydroelectric power plants, in some cases many days after the disaster.
An estimated 7,500 homes have been completely destroyed, while another 7,500 have suffered significant damage. Roads and bridges, more than 1,800 hectares of agricultural land and other infrastructure have also sustained extensive damage. Around 13 hydroelectric power plants were affected, resulting in the loss of hundreds of megawatts of generating capacity. Government agencies have launched a comprehensive post-disaster needs assessment.
The disaster has highlighted Nepal’s vulnerability to climate-related hazards, prompting the country to seek international support, including through mechanisms for loss and damage compensation. Local media, including The Kathmandu Post, continue to report on survivors’ trauma, the efforts of rescue teams, searches for missing workers and the impact on the country’s energy market.
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