Nepal holds day of mourning

KATHMANDU: Nepal held a national day of mourning with candlelight vigils on Monday for victims of devastating glacial floods, as families of missing hydropower workers feared trapped in tunnels prayed rescuers might yet find them alive. The August 26 glacial and mountain collapse on the China-Nepal border killed at least 1,399 people, with more than 5,500 missing, including around 800 foreigners.
Flags flew at half-mast and hundreds of people gathered for the vigils in the Nepali capital Kathmandu, as the nation marked the 13th day after death in line with Hindu mourning rituals. Hundreds of hydropower workers are among the missing, but the rescue of three of them from deep inside tunnels — two Nepalis on Friday and a Chinese man on Saturday — has buoyed hopes that more could still be alive. Nepal Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet said rescue efforts were continuing at 'the same tempo' to make sure 'that no one is still stranded'. Entire communities have been swept away, with roads destroyed and homes demolished.
Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel visited relief camps in Nuwakot, speaking to those left homeless by the disaster. 'Today the entire nation is mourning this horrific disaster,' he said in a statement. 'To everyone waiting for news of family members and friends, I want to assure you that search and rescue operations will continue.' — AFP