Hope and horror: Families in Nepal await news of missing

Malaysian families affected by the disaster in Nepal are pleading for swift action, stating that every hour matters in their quest to locate their missing relatives. R Manivannan, speaking on behalf of the Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope (Masfih) support group, emphasized that these are not merely missing persons, but rather their parents, siblings, spouses, and children.

The disaster, caused by flash floods and landslides, struck Nepal's Rasuwa district near the Tibet border on Wednesday, leaving many Malaysians missing and unaccounted for.

Manivannan, whose brother is among the unaccounted for, expressed the immense suffering and anxiety caused by the lack of official updates. He highlighted that even a single day without verified information exacerbates their anguish. The families have made five requests to the government, specifically to Wisma Putra and the Malaysian embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing, urging daily updates on the search and rescue operations and developments from the Nepali and Chinese authorities.

They seek special liaison officers to be stationed in Kathmandu and Beijing to communicate directly with their representatives, ensuring consistent information dissemination to all affected families. The families also requested the government to utilize diplomatic channels to grant immediate permission for a Malaysian SAR team to assist in the search. Manivannan stressed that the government must leave no stone unturned and employ all available diplomatic channels to ensure no potential area is overlooked.

The disaster, which occurred on August 26, has claimed at least 626 lives in Nepal, with thousands still reported missing. Wisma Putra has confirmed that 55 Malaysians remain uncontactable, while two previously missing individuals have been located. Manivannan also expressed concern over the lack of information from the Chinese side, noting that some missing Malaysians might have been stranded at the Chinese immigration checkpoint or had crossed into Tibet when the floods hit.

The Malaysians affected were primarily on trekking or religious pilgrimages, including Hindu ceremonies, organized by three tour operators - Leaf Holiday (23 Malaysians), Dream Tibet Travel & Tours (eight), and Fishtail Tours & Travels (17).