77 Malaysians found safe in Tibet, Nepal being repatriated

On the seventh day since catastrophic floods and mudslides devastated Nepal, sorrow enveloped communities. The death toll continued to rise, with the initial 100 fatalities swelling to nearly 1,000 as bodies were identified. Families anxiously awaited news on the whereabouts of their missing loved ones, uncertain if they had met their end.

Pashupatinath Temple, a significant Hindu pilgrimage site in Kathmandu, witnessed this intensified grief, with a hospital employee stating, "The number of bodies of flood victims is increasing by the day."

One such victim was Nawakul Sharma, 33, whose body was discovered nearly 100 km away from his border checkpoint in Timare after the flood. Sharma's heartbroken family, including his wife, stroked his face and whispered his three-part phrase, "May you live in heaven," three times before his funeral pyre was set alight. His ashes were carried away by the Bagmati River.

Despite being rescued from the flood, many survivors felt a profound sense of loss. Subhash Kolderga, 33, recounted his harrowing experience, noting that only two of his friends survived while they were all swept away. Kolderga's truck had been violently shaken by an earthquake and crammed with debris as he crossed the border with Tibet.

Gorakh Thapa, 50, who was rescued from the market town of Dhunge Bazaar, lay in a hospital bed with symptoms of pneumonia. He expressed worry for his son, who had severe injuries, and other relatives who remained missing. Thapa mourned the loss of his entire family, not knowing the fates of his wife, daughter-in-law, and grandson, who were swept away while working in the fields.

In the hospital, flyers sought missing family members, and Yubaraj Lama, 29, pleaded for help in finding his 3-year-old nephew. Lama's dark expression conveyed the depths of his pain. He expressed hope that someone would come forward with information, as he continued to wait and hope.