Kathmandu, en.SERU.co.id— Families of people still missing after Nepal’s deadly flash floods have begun holding symbolic funeral rites as search operations continue across the disaster-hit Himalayan region.
The ceremonies took place in Nuwakot district and at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on Wednesday, September 2, as relatives faced growing uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported 1,114 deaths and 3,916 people still missing as of Wednesday. In neighboring China, 21 deaths and 546 missing people were reported, bringing the combined toll from the August 26 disaster to about 1,130 deaths and more than 4,400 missing.
Symbolic Funeral Rites
Families used straw and kush grass effigies to represent relatives whose bodies have not been recovered. The rituals were performed according to Hindu funeral traditions.
“We had to do this to set his soul free, so that he is at peace and happy wherever he is,” said Dolma Newar Tamang during a ceremony for her missing husband.
Mukunda Rijal said his cousins and their daughters also remain missing, prompting their family to perform symbolic funeral rites.
Authorities have recovered more than 1,000 bodies, but only a small number have been identified. Temporary burials have begun for unidentified victims, while officials collect DNA samples to help establish their identities.
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Missing Tourists
The disaster has also affected foreign travelers. Nepal’s Foreign Ministry said 324 foreign nationals had been rescued, while about 590 tourists from 39 countries remained missing.
Some previously missing tourists have since contacted authorities. Nepal Tourism Board spokesperson Sunil Sharma said at least five people had made contact by telephone or email in recent days. Australia also confirmed that the number of its missing citizens had fallen from 43 to 38.
Search operations remain underway, with security forces using helicopters, heavy equipment and detection dogs to locate survivors and recover bodies. The missing-person figures continue to be updated as authorities verify information.
