Nepal cuts wait period to declare missing flood victims dead

Nepal has reduced the waiting period to declare missing flood victims dead from 12 years to approximately 1.5 months, following a catastrophic flood on August 26 near the China-Nepal border. President Ram Chandra Poudel shortened the time frame in an effort to help the thousands of families who remain unaccounted for after the disaster.

The flood, triggered by a mountain and glacier collapse on the border, caused widespread destruction, killing over 1,400 people and destroying roads, bridges, and hydropower dams. Over 5,000 people remain missing, including a significant number of foreign nationals. Prior to this, a person had to be missing for 12 years before they could be legally declared dead under Nepalese law.

The government has issued an ordinance updating the timeline to the president, but has not shared the details of the amendments. So far, only 112 bodies have been identified and returned to their families. Rescue efforts continued for weeks, with teams sifting through mud and sediment and searching damaged homes for survivors and victims.

Despite the passage of a month since the disaster, families of missing victims have faced challenges obtaining death certificates, which are necessary for accessing compensation or resolving property issues. In some cases, families have already held symbolic cremation ceremonies for their missing relatives.