Thousands of families in Nepal are grappling with conflicting emotions following the government’s decision to halt search operations for missing individuals in the aftermath of devastating floods. Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s office announced on Monday the cessation of search and rescue efforts for victims of the August 26 floods. Instead, the focus will shift towards rehabilitation and reconstruction, particularly in restoring infrastructure like roads and bridges in remote regions that were severely impacted by the floods, hindering aid distribution.
Although rescuers have recovered the remains of at least 1,455 individuals, a staggering 5,285 people, including numerous foreign nationals, are still unaccounted for. Global Affairs Canada disclosed that 29 Canadians and permanent residents in Nepal and Tibet are yet to be located following the flash floods, citing privacy reasons for withholding further details.
The narrative briefly shifted when two Nepalese workers were rescued from an underground tunnel at the Trishuli hydropower project on September 4, followed by the discovery of a Chinese national at the same site two days later. Despite these glimmers of hope, families of the missing have been demanding enhanced search efforts through protests and vigils, criticizing the government’s decision to cease operations prematurely.
Usha Khatri, who tirelessly searched for her husband across multiple areas where bodies were found, expressed frustration at the abandonment of search operations. Meanwhile, Mahesh Shrestha, whose brother worked at a hydropower plant affected by the disaster, urged authorities to continue the search for his sibling.
On the other hand, some families welcomed the government’s decision, emphasizing the need for official death certificates to initiate closure. Nirajan Poudel, who lost five family members in the floods, acknowledged the diminishing hope of finding survivors alive and underscored the importance of attaining death certificates for compensation and property inheritance.
Although symbolic funerals have been conducted by those with missing relatives, the government’s reluctance to issue death certificates due to legal amendments has impeded the closure process for many. The financial burden of reconstruction and recovery in Nepal is estimated at $4.77 billion US, with around 33,000 individuals affected and approximately 7,500 homes damaged or destroyed.