33 days after Nepal floods, families of 55 missing Malaysians still in limbo

Seventy-three days have passed since a devastating glacial flash flood struck Nepal on August 26, claiming over 1,450 lives and leaving thousands more unaccounted for. The families of 55 Malaysians still missing in the disaster are still in a state of uncertainty, 33 days after their loved ones went missing. S Punitha, Suguna Balan's aunt and the family's breadwinner, expressed their desperation for clear information about the fate of their loved ones and the next steps to be taken.

The family is still grappling with the emotional and financial toll of the ordeal, as they have not received any news about Suguna's belongings or her whereabouts. Punitha, along with other family members, visited the foreign ministry's headquarters in Putrajaya to seek updates on the latest developments concerning the missing Malaysians.

Another next of kin, M Subramaniam, expressed hope that the missing individuals might have survived or could be in locations yet to be identified. The families are deeply concerned about the progress of the search on both sides of the Nepal-China border and want updates from the relevant authorities. They also wish to know whether the group of Malaysians crossed the Tibet immigration checkpoint before the disaster struck.

The disaster, triggered by an ice and rock collapse in Tibet, resulted in the deaths of more than 1,450 people. Today's closed-door meeting marks the second engagement between the foreign ministry and the families since the tragedy.