Nepali families hold symbolic funeral ceremonies for people reported missing after deadly flash floods in the Himalayan region. With nearly 4,000 people still unaccounted for, relatives who cannot find their loved ones perform rites to “liberate the souls” of those believed to have died.
The ceremonies take place about a week after the floods swept away villages and homes. Some outlets describe families conducting last rites after days of searching through shelters and mortuaries, when hope of locating remains is fading. While the core focus remains on the missing and the communities affected, coverage varies in emphasis: one outlet highlights the large number of missing people, while another frames the timing—one week after the disaster—and the decision by families to proceed with symbolic funerals.
