Nepal marks 13th day of mourning as hope for missing survivors lingers

Nepal observed the thirteenth day of mourning on Monday, lowering flags to half‑mast and holding vigils in Kathmandu after a catastrophic glacial and mountain collapse on the China‑Nepal border on 26 August. The disaster claimed at least 1,399 lives and left more than 5,500 people unaccounted for, including roughly 800 foreign nationals.

Mourning rituals and public response

The solemn observance follows Hindu customs that mark the thirteenth day after a death, prompting families to gather for last‑rite ceremonies across the country. Hundreds of hydropower workers are among the missing, and relatives have taken to the streets demanding faster results from the authorities.

Rescue operations and challenges

Raja Ram Basnet, spokesperson for the Nepal Army, said rescue teams are working at "the same tempo" to ensure no one remains stranded. The recent rescue of three tunnel workers, two Nepalis on Friday and a Chinese national on Saturday, has revived hopes that more survivors may be found.

"We are measured not only by the lives we save, but by the lives we refuse to abandon," said Arnold Dix, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association.

Australian tunnel expert Arnold Dix described the operation as unprecedented, with multiple rescue sites each presenting unique dangers. International specialists from China, India and South Korea are also on the ground, supporting Nepalese crews.

Adarsha Raj Bhusal, a drone pilot, recounted the difficulty of reaching a flooded tunnel in the Upper Trishuli‑1 hydropower project, saying he sank waist‑deep into mud upon landing.

Political response and next steps

Ram Chandra Paudel, Nepal's president, visited relief camps in Nuwakot and pledged that search and rescue would continue. With mortuaries overwhelmed, authorities have resorted to mass graves after taking DNA samples for future identification.

Amid the sorrow, stories of survival have emerged. Chandika Shrestha, a 64‑year‑old woman, was pulled alive from her mud‑covered home in Bidur after her family had already held a symbolic funeral. Her neighbour, Buddhi Lal Dongol, expressed optimism that more missing relatives might return.

Families like that of Kula Priya Nepal, whose son perished at a hydroelectric site, continue to grapple with loss while urging faster action. While the exact trigger of the glacial collapse remains under investigation, scientists link such events to accelerating glacial melt driven by climate change.

With nearly 1,400 confirmed deaths, over 4,900 still missing in Nepal, and additional casualties reported across the border, the nation faces a long road to recovery. The disaster arrives just before the anniversary of last year's anti‑corruption protests, adding a layer of political sensitivity to the humanitarian response.