Fears for 'lovely' Australians missing in Nepal flood

An Australian woman, Cara Severino, who was feared missing in Nepal's flooding disaster, has been located and is now on her way back to Kathmandu, according to Foreign Minister Penny Wong. This is a rare positive development amidst the immense loss and uncertainty caused by the catastrophic flooding. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trading (DFAT) confirmed they had reached Ms Severino and she was en route back to Nepal.

In a statement, Ms Severino expressed her gratitude for the Australian crew that helped her during her rescue. The disaster has led to the recovery of 626 bodies, with nearly 3,000 people still missing. Rescue efforts are being hampered by damaged infrastructure, which has left some areas inaccessible. The Nepalese government has accepted a $5 million humanitarian aid package from Australia to aid in the rebuilding process, but the total cost is estimated to be up to $5 billion.

Australian Defence Force members, along with Australian personnel, are joining Nepalese authorities in the search and rescue operations. Among those still missing are Australian Defence Force member Karan Bhardwaj, Brisbane residents Arpan Mithalal Kothari and Bhavin Raval, and their families are desperately awaiting news of their whereabouts.