Nepali families' desperate search for news of missing loved ones

Tremendous flash flooding has left thousands of families in Nepal desperate for information about their missing loved ones. Photos of victims and survivors are displayed on hospital noticeboards across the country as rescuers struggle to reach remote locations where roads and bridges have been destroyed. In Kathmandu, a major hospital displays A4 photographs of unidentified dead in hopes someone will recognize them, but rain regularly washes them away, forcing fresh prints.

Rescuers prioritize survivors over bodies, as retrieving all remains is deemed impossible. Survivors and injured are listed on noticeboards, drawing crowds eager to find their relatives. Over 2,500 are now missing, with 517 bodies recovered on the Nepali side of a border valley. Friends and family are posting pictures of the missing, and police and volunteers collect names and numbers of those searching.

Tilmaya Gurung visits hospitals and morgues searching for her sister's husband, Meg Bahadur, a 49-year-old with two children who lost contact with his phone after the flood. Her husband, Jai Bahadur Gurung, is also searching at the hospital, trying to remain hopeful despite the fear of days stretching on. More than 400 injured people have been airlifted to the hospital, many with severe injuries, including crushed chests and trapped limbs.

Doctors are developing new methods, including a decontamination shower, to remove mud from patients. The region, prone to natural disasters, has faced earthquakes and standard flooding, but this glacial collapse flood is unlike any before, with roads and bridges destroyed, making access difficult for aid. Supplies are being trucked and flown in, but the extent of needs remains unknown.