KATHMANDU — Flags flew at half-mast across Nepal and at its diplomatic missions abroad on Monday as the Himalayan nation observed a national day of mourning to honor the victims of one of the deadliest flash flood disasters in its recent history.

The solemn observance comes on the 13th day following the August 26 disaster, aligning with traditional Hindu customs where the 13th day marks the formal conclusion of the primary mourning period.

According to government figures, the official death toll has climbed to over 1,340 people, while nearly 5,000 individuals remain missing, including 589 foreign nationals.

The catastrophe was triggered by a massive high-Himalayan ice-rock avalanche along the Nepal-China border in Rasuwa district. The resulting deluge sent violent flash floods roaring down the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems, tearing through communities in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading.

The raging floodwaters destroyed or severely damaged critical infrastructure, wiping out entire villages, highway bridges, government facilities, and major hydropower installations. Officials estimate that over 7,500 homes have been destroyed, leaving at least 32,000 families displaced.

Following a Cabinet decision chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah on September 3, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed all state institutions to lower the national flag to half-mast on Monday. In a public address on the eve of the national mourning day, Prime Minister Shah expressed solidarity with grieving families and commended response teams working under perilous conditions.

Search, rescue, and recovery operations remain active across affected zones. Personnel from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force are coordinating with specialized international rescue teams, including specialists from neighboring India and South Korea, to search for individuals trapped in submerged hydropower tunnels and under heavy mud debris.

The disaster has disrupted power grids, drinking water networks, and transport routes across central Nepal, presenting massive logistical hurdles for relief operations. Search teams continue to work against time to locate thousands who remain unaccounted for, even as the nation pauses to grieve its loss.