Nepal marks national mourning day after deadly flood - Reuters

**National Mourning Declared as Nepal Grieves Flood Tragedy**

Kathmandu – The Government of Nepal announced a one‑day national mourning on **13 July 2024** to honor the victims of the catastrophic flash floods that struck the remote mountainous district of Rasuwa on 12 July. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal addressed the nation, saying the disaster “has left an indelible scar on our collective conscience” and ordering all public institutions to fly flags at half‑mast, suspend official ceremonies and hold moment of silence at 11 a.m. across the country. The mourning day coincides with the 13th day since the deluge, which triggered landslides, swept away villages and isolated entire valleys.

The death toll from the Rasuwa flash flood has risen to **1,340 confirmed deaths**, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs, while more than **5,000 people remain missing**. Rescue teams comprising the Nepalese Army, Nepal Police, and dozens of local volunteers have been deployed to the hardest‑hit areas, using helicopters, all‑terrain vehicles and portable bridges to reach survivors trapped by washed‑out roads. International aid has begun to flow, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinating shipments of food, clean water, and medical supplies, and neighboring India and China dispatching rescue personnel and relief kits. The government has also announced a **Rs 2 billion (≈ US$ 15 million) emergency fund** to support reconstruction of homes, schools and critical infrastructure.

Families of the victims are gathering at temporary shelters and community centers in Kathmandu and other major cities, seeking answers and assistance. Human‑rights groups have urged the authorities to expedite the identification of the deceased and to provide transparent updates on the missing, stressing the need for long‑term mitigation measures such as early‑warning systems and sustainable land‑use planning in the Himalayas. The national mourning day, while a symbolic gesture of solidarity, underscores the scale of the humanitarian crisis and the urgent demand for coordinated domestic and international response.