Family urges realistic, transparent updates as Nepal search enters ninth day

As the search for missing Malaysians in Nepal's border disaster entered its ninth day, one family has urged authorities to be realistic and transparent about the prospects of finding survivors. Dr. R. Manivannan, whose sister Komathi is among the 55 Malaysians still unaccounted for, expressed the need for detailed and specific updates regarding efforts to locate their loved ones.

He noted that the likelihood of survivors is now extremely low, as even if some had survived the initial flood, enduring nine days without proper food, water, and shelter would be highly challenging.

Manivannan called on the government to clarify the current objectives of deploying the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart). He asked whether the team would focus on locating survivors, recovery efforts, or identification. If the primary goal shifts to locating and recovering the missing, he stressed the importance of acknowledging the reality of the situation, as recovery and identification could become increasingly difficult as time passes.

He emphasized that families should not have to interpret vague updates and required concrete measures on the ground to still locate, recover, and identify their loved ones, providing answers to their families.

The family is still awaiting a promised letter confirming their relatives' status, which would aid them in documentation and other necessary arrangements. Nepal's Rasuwa district, near the border with Tibet, China, was struck by flash floods and landslides on August 26, obstructing roads and damaging access routes in the mountainous region where the Malaysian travelers were believed to have been headed.

Malaysia's embassy in Kathmandu has been coordinating with Nepalese authorities, and Putrajaya has sought Nepal's approval to deploy the Smart team, which remains on standby.