Searches halted in Nepal, 5,285 people missing — CBC
In Nepal, authorities have ended the search-and-rescue operation following the devastating floods of August 26, although 5,285 people are still considered missing. The decision was made by the office of Prime Minister Balendra Shah: the government now plans to focus on recovery and reconstruction, including roads and bridges in remote areas.
Rescuers have recovered at least 1,455 bodies. Hundreds of foreign nationals are among those who have still not been found. As CBC reports, damaged infrastructure has complicated the delivery of aid to some of the affected areas.
Families demand that searches continue
The government's decision has drawn mixed reactions among relatives of the missing. Some families held protests and memorial events, calling for search efforts to be improved. Usha Khatri, who searched for her husband in several towns along the river, said the authorities should not have stopped the operation while there was still hope of finding people.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Mahesh Shrestha, whose brother worked as an engineer at a hydropower plant affected by the disaster, also called for the search to continue. At the same time, other families supported ending the operation, believing that the chances of finding people alive were minimal.
The issue of death certificates
Some relatives of the missing are seeking death certificates needed to receive compensation, insurance payments and arrange inheritance matters. According to Nirajan Pudel, who lost five relatives in the flood, the government has so far refused to issue such documents, citing the need to amend legislation.
Some families have already held symbolic funerals without the bodies of the deceased. The Nepalese government estimates that rebuilding the country after the disaster will cost $4.77 billion. The disaster affected nearly 33,000 people, while about 7,500 homes were damaged or destroyed.
