Young people gathered in Kathmandu’s historic Basantapur district for a candlelit vigil in memory of victims of the devastating flash floods that swept through parts of Nepal. The quiet gathering offered a moment of mourning and solidarity as the country continues to grapple with the scale of the disaster, with 1,331 bodies recovered so far and about 5,000 people still missing.
The flash floods struck Nepal on August 26 after a high-altitude glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border sent a massive surge of water, rocks and debris through communities along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems. The disaster swept away homes, roads and bridges, while leaving large areas cut off and thousands of people unaccounted for. Rescue teams have since been searching through debris, damaged buildings and flooded hydropower facilities, with international teams joining Nepali authorities in the effort.
As the search continues, families across Nepal are facing the painful uncertainty of waiting for news of missing relatives. Authorities have been recovering and identifying bodies while collecting DNA samples to help reunite remains with families. The scale of the losses has also prompted symbolic funerals and other mourning rituals for people whose bodies have not been found.
As candles illuminated Basantapur, the vigil offered Nepal’s young people a moment to grieve, remember and stand together amid one of the country’s worst recent disasters. But with thousands still unaccounted for and rescue teams continuing to search damaged communities and hydropower sites, the mourning is unfolding alongside an ongoing race to find survivors and bring closure to families still waiting for news of their loved ones.
