Indian bishops stand in solidarity, offer prayers after Nepal flood

NEW DELHI (Indian Catholic News) — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India expressed “profound sorrow and solidarity” with Nepal after a devastating glacial lake outburst flood caused deaths, injuries, displacement and extensive damage.

The CBCI said the suffering caused by the flood was “heartbreaking” and pledged “prayerful solidarity” with its “brothers and sisters in Nepal.”

Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad, president of the CBCI, conveyed “heartfelt condolences” to families who lost loved ones.

“We share in your grief and entrust the departed souls to the mercy of God,” he said, adding that the bishops were praying for those still missing, the success of rescue and relief operations, the recovery of the injured and “strength and hope” for displaced people.

The CBCI invited the faithful, parishes, religious communities and institutions across India to remember victims, bereaved families and the people of Nepal during Sunday Mass on Aug. 30.

“Let us unite in prayer for comfort for the grieving, safety for the missing and resilience for the nation of Nepal,” the bishops said.

The CBCI prayed that the “compassionate Lord” would grant “eternal rest to the deceased, healing to the injured, and courage to all who are working tirelessly in relief efforts.”

At least 3,000 people are missing after catastrophic flash flooding along the Nepal-China border. More than 600 people have died in Nepal and at least seven in China, where reports from Tibet have been slow to emerge, according to international media.

Nepali authorities are struggling to handle the mounting number of recovered bodies, with officials in some areas planning to bury unidentified remains in mass graves.

The floods and mudslides struck dozens of settlements along a 72-kilometre stretch of the Trishuli River on Aug. 26. The disaster destroyed the Gyirong Port complex on the China-Nepal border, a major trade and tourism gateway. Some victims’ bodies were carried 240 kilometres into neighbouring India.

Read the press release.