Hope and horror: Families in Nepal await news of missing

In Kathmandu, the largest hospital has been adorned with posters featuring hopeful, smiling faces in stark contrast to the devastation caused by a recent glacial collapse in the Himalayas. The posters aim to humanize the tragedy, showcasing everyday people - a baby in his mother's arms, a newly-wed couple, and a grandfather on pilgrimage. These images represent over 2,000 individuals who are still missing following the disaster that occurred on Wednesday.

The families of the missing endure an agonizing wait for news, often gathering outside the hospital where injured victims are treated. Each ambulance that arrives fuels the hope of a reunion, but it is also a reminder of the helplessness that permeates the situation. One such family is that of Sitaram Khadka, whose 26-year-old brother Bhupendra went missing while working with a tour agency that takes tourists to Mount Kailash, a sacred site for both Buddhists and Hindus.

The search for the missing extends beyond the hospital, with families also visiting a local morgue to view photographs of those who have been confirmed dead. The morgue is filled with faces of children and adults, some missing limbs, and others with swollen features from prolonged immersion in water. One woman, Sanu Tamang, is deeply distraught as she tries to identify her husband, a logistics driver who was in Tibet when the flood struck. Her son is so grief-stricken that he refuses to eat.

The police reveal that the identification process could take weeks, even months, as many bodies have been so severely damaged that DNA samples are the only means of recognition. The grief permeates the air, with families clinging to hope while enduring unimaginable pain.