A month without answers: Families of missing Malaysians told Nepal search may soon end

After enduring a month of silence without updates, the families of Malaysians still missing in Nepal are contemplating the possibility that the search and rescue efforts may soon cease. During a gathering at Wisma Putra on September 27, the next of kin were informed about the impending conclusion of the rescue operation phase by the Nepalese government, followed by recovery operations.

The families were also provided with information on the documentation process, including the death certificates that the Nepalese government will issue.

S. Sankara, whose mother was among the missing, recounted the briefing by Wisma Putra, stating that the search and rescue operation was still ongoing at the time of the meeting. He emphasized that the family was informed about the documentation process, including the issuance of the death certificate by the Nepalese government. The four-hour meeting, held at Wisma Putra, featured briefings from various agencies concerning the SAR operations, management of DNA samples, legal procedures, and documentation processes.

Sankara's family is grappling with the emotional burden of losing his mother, K. Kalaimathi, who was in Nepal for a religious ceremony. Meanwhile, Adura Masood, whose husband, Dr. Mohd Padzil Daros, remains missing, expressed disappointment in the lack of new developments regarding her husband’s whereabouts. Despite the absence of fresh information, Adura acknowledged the efforts of the search teams.

She noted that her husband was part of a group known as "Team Loe" that was among those reported missing in the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border area when the disaster struck.

The meeting marked the second time the government engaged with the affected families on August 30, five days after the incident on August 26. However, not all families were represented during the initial briefing. Representatives from the National Disaster Management Agency, the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Malaysian Department of Chemistry, the National Registration Department, the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu, and the Department of Social Welfare all participated in today's meeting.

The tragic flood and debris flow, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche in the upper Lhende Khola watershed in Tibet, claimed over 1,450 lives, while many more remain unaccounted for.