Nepal floods: Families search for missing tourists after disaster

A week has passed since catastrophic floods ravaged Nepal's Himalayan border region, leaving families of missing tourists desperate for answers. Sanjeev Rai, a 53-year-old American, arrived in Kathmandu determined to find his wife Jiwan Jyoti, who was missing after returning from a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. Rai expressed his desperation, stating that he has now given up hope of finding Jyoti alive and is only hoping that DNA samples will match hers.

The August 26 flood has become one of the deadliest disasters in Nepal, killing over 1,200 people and leaving more than 4,750 missing in Nepal and China's Tibet region. The disaster has disrupted towns, roads, bridges, and multiple hydropower dams. Britain's ambassador to Nepal, Rob Fenn, acknowledged the agonizing wait for closure and information, stating that the embassy has reinforced its capacity with psychosocial experts and set up a reception center for families.

Among the missing are 77 pilgrims from the Isha Foundation, including Europeans, North Americans, and Australians. Their relatives have been seeking information, while volunteers from the Foundation assist them in examining police photos and visiting hospitals. Nepal police have begun collecting DNA samples to help identify bodies, and families overseas can submit samples in their home countries.