Nepal LGBTQ+ community holds vigil for flash flood victims in Kathmandu

Nepal's LGBTQ+ community held a candlelight vigil in Kathmandu for flash flood victims and the missing. The gathering reflected national grief after the disaster forced Pride events to be cancelled.Members of Nepal's LGBTQ+ community gathered in Kathmandu on Saturday for a candlelight vigil to honour those killed in the country's devastating flash floods and to pray for people who are still missing.The vigil came as the death toll from the disaster in central Nepal rose to 734 on Sunday, with nearly 2,500 people still unaccounted for as rescue teams continued search operations for a fifth day.Led by the Blue Diamond Society, community members assembled at Khulla Manch, observed a moment of silence and expressed solidarity with families affected by the floods, which struck Nepal on Wednesday. "We organised this small gathering to light candles and pray for the eternal peace of all who lost their lives in this disaster, and to pray that those who are still missing are found as quickly as possible," a community member told PTI Videos.The vigil was held after the Blue Diamond Society cancelled the 24th Nepal Pride Parade and GaiJatra Celebration, which had been scheduled for August 29, in view of the floods and the difficult situation facing communities across Nepal. In a statement posted earlier on Instagram, the group said it would replace the planned parade and larger celebration with a small candlelight condolence event to provide "a quiet space to remember those who have lost their lives and to express our collective grief and solidarity." Bodies have been recovered from all eight affected districts as rescuers continue operations. The disaster was triggered by an ice-rock avalanche following a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border, sending water, mud and debris downstream. The floods wiped out towns and villages, damaged key infrastructure and washed away hydropower stations across central Nepal, even as people across the country continued to mourn the dead and wait for news of the missing.With PTI Inputs - EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 30, 2026 12:10 IST