Mass burials in Nepal as death toll from flash floods exceeds 1,000 - AP News

**Mass burials in Nepal as death toll from flash floods exceeds 1,000**

The monsoon‑driven flash floods that swept through Nepal’s central and eastern hills last week have claimed more than 1,000 lives, according to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The deluge, triggered by unprecedented rainfall in the Nepal‑Tibet border region, turned rivers into torrents that overwhelmed villages, washed away roads, and triggered debris avalanches that buried entire hamlets. With the death toll climbing and many bodies still unrecovered, authorities have begun mass burial ceremonies in the affected districts, a somber effort aimed at providing dignity to the victims and easing the psychological burden on grieving families.

Rescue operations have been hampered by the destruction of key transport corridors, leaving many communities cut off for days. International and regional teams, including an Indian tunnel rescue unit, have made progress clearing the Chilime and Langtang hydropower sites, which were flooded and partially collapsed under the surge of water and mud. Local volunteers, aided by the Nepalese Army and the Red Cross, have been distributing emergency supplies, while medical teams treat dozens of injuries ranging from hypothermia to crush syndrome. In a stark illustration of the crisis, a reporter who spent six days navigating the debris‑strewn landscape described how “roads were gone, we kept going” to reach stranded survivors, underscoring the relentless nature of the emergency response.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has released a preliminary report linking the disaster to a rare combination of a debris avalanche and flash flood, phenomena that have become more likely as climate change intensifies monsoon patterns. The report warns that the destabilized slopes, already saturated by heavy rain, could trigger further landslides in the coming weeks, threatening reconstruction efforts and the safety of displaced residents. Humanitarian agencies are calling for sustained international aid to address the immediate needs for shelter, clean water, and psychosocial support, while the Nepalese government pledges to rebuild critical infrastructure with improved flood‑resilience standards.