The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), an authority under Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs, has published verified details of 2,294 people from 32 districts who went missing in the Bhotekoshi floods.
In a notice issued on Sunday, the authority urged individuals or their immediate family members to submit claims within seven days if those listed as missing are alive or have been found. Claims can be filed at local governments, District Administration Offices, or directly with the NDRRMA.
According to the authority, the highest number of missing individuals are from Rasuwa, with 1,583 recorded cases. The list also includes people reported missing from Dhankuta, Dadeldhura, Khotang, Bhojpur, Achham, Kapilvastu, Jajarkot, Sarlahi, Lalitpur, Kailali, Mahottari, Baglung, Taplejung, Jumla (63 individuals), Bajura, Kalikot, Nawalpur, Udayapur, Kavrepalanchok, Parasi, Tehrathum, Eastern Rukum, Saptari, Bardiya, Syangja, Ramechhap, Dang, Sindhupalchok, and Sindhuli.
The NDRRMA has also published details of 171 missing foreign nationals from seven countries. This includes 54 each from Malaysia and Ukraine, 33 from Australia, 11 from Russia, nine from South Korea, eight from Germany, and two from Italy. Details for missing foreign nationals were received through the Department of Consular Services, a department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from diplomatic missions in Nepal or those designated to oversee Nepal.
The list of missing Nepali citizens was published based on recommendations from local governments of their permanent addresses and decisions made by the respective District Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees, committees chaired by the Chief District Officer at the district level.
The Bhotekoshi floods, triggered on Bhadra 10, have so far claimed 1,457 lives, while a total of 5,285 people have been reported missing, according to the authority’s data. Prime Minister Balen Shah had directed security and relevant agencies to conduct search, rescue, and relief operations in the affected areas on Bhadra 10.
Background
- The Bhotekoshi floods, caused by a 600-meter-wide ice avalanche from Langtang Lirung in the Bhotekoshi-Lende River corridor near the Nepal-China border, severely impacted 15 local levels in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Tanahu districts on Bhadra 10.
- The floods damaged 35 bridges, nine bank branches, road networks, and private and public buildings, with an estimated reconstruction cost of Rs 500 billion.
- The government provided Rs 10 million each to Rasuwa and Nuwakot, and Rs 5 million to Dhading for immediate relief.
- A national day of mourning was observed on Bhadra 22, 2083, following a cabinet decision on Bhadra 18, 2083.
What happens next
It also stated that another notice would be published once additional details are received from District Administration Offices for unlisted districts and from diplomatic missions regarding foreign nationals.
