KATHMANDU: Families of people missing after the devastating flash floods in northern Nepal continued searching for their loved ones on Sunday, four days after the disaster struck areas near the Nepal-China border.
At Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in Maharajgunj, relatives gathered around photographs and missing-person notices displayed outside the hospital. Some families posted photographs of their missing relatives, while others carefully checked the images, lists and notices already displayed, hoping to find information about their loved ones.
The hospital has become one of the key places where families are seeking information following the disaster. Bodies recovered after the Rasuwa floods have been brought to TUTH for identification and post-mortem examinations, adding to the difficult situation faced by families waiting for answers.
Similar searches are taking place beyond Kathmandu. Relatives have been visiting hospitals, police offices, flood-affected areas and even riverbanks while carrying photographs of missing family members. Radio Nepal reported cases of families travelling between Kathmandu, Rasuwa and other locations in search of information.
The disaster began on August 26, when a massive flow of mud, rock and water struck the Himalayan border region and moved downstream through river systems in Nepal. The floods caused extensive damage to settlements, roads, bridges and major infrastructure, while also affecting tourists, workers and local communities.
As of Sunday, authorities reported 781 deaths and 2,502 people missing in Nepal, while rescue and recovery operations continued in difficult terrain. Search teams have also been focusing on hydropower project areas and other locations where people may remain trapped.
For families gathered at hospitals and information points, the wait continues as authorities work to identify recovered bodies and locate those still unaccounted for.
