Kathmandu, September 3: The Council of Ministers, at a meeting held Thursday, decided to observe September 7 as a day of national mourning, marking the 13th-day (pratyitithi) rites for those killed in the devastating flood that struck the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa on Bhadra 10 (August 26).
Government spokesperson Sasmita Pokhrel said the national flag will fly at half-mast at all government offices across the country and at Nepali embassies and diplomatic missions abroad on that day. A public holiday was separately declared for September 8 to mark GenZ Martyrs day.
The Nepali Army has flown over 570 rescue and relief sorties, with the Armed Police Force and private helicopter operators also contributing to the search and relief effort in the worst-hit districts.
Among the cabinet’s other flood-related decisions:
- Acceptance of a $5 million grant from the Asian Development Bank for emergency rescue, relief, and life-saving support for flood-affected communities.
- A relief package for flood-affected individuals, industries, and businesses, including tax and customs facilitation under an integrated business-recovery plan.
- Duty-concession approval to import 25,000 metric tonnes of sugar at 1 percent customs tariff through Salt Trading Corporation and the Food Management and Trading Company, to help stabilise supplies.
- Risk and duty allowances, free medical treatment for the injured, and NPR 1 million in relief per family for security personnel and civil servants killed during search-and-rescue operations.
