According to the Associated Press, families of victims and missing persons gathered in Kathmandu on Oct. 19 to urge authorities to accelerate search and recovery operations following devastating floods that left 1,403 dead and 6,150 missing, as reported by the Nepal Disaster Management Authority. The disaster struck on Sept. 26, heavily impacting infrastructure including the Trishuli hydroelectric project and a construction site in the Rasuwa region.
Kathmandu Protests Demand Accelerated Search Efforts
Protesters carrying posters of missing relatives gathered near the Prime Minister’s office and key ministerial buildings in Kathmandu, demanding faster rescue operations. Sumana Shrestha, whose husband was a geological consultant working at the Trishuli hydroelectric plant, told the Associated Press that she had received no information regarding rescue attempts inside the tunnels, despite 13 days having passed since the disaster. Shrestha noted that her husband’s two-story office building was completely buried under debris after he lost contact on the day of the floods.
Search operations at the hydroelectric plant tunnels have slowed significantly following the rescue of two Nepali workers on Oct. 4 and one Chinese worker on Oct. 5. Although four additional bodies were recovered from the tunnels on Oct. 17, thousands of families continue to demand information on missing relatives, according to the Associated Press.
Did you know? In Nepal, where the majority of the population is Hindu, traditional mourning periods last for 13 days, concluding with a final memorial service to honor the deceased. Following the September floods, some families held symbolic funerals even without recovering bodies, which helped them find psychological and religious closure.
Status of Foreign Emergency Relief and Missing Nationals
International response efforts have also faced operational hurdles. The second contingent of Korea’s Overseas Emergency Relief Team (KDRT), deployed to Nepal on Oct. 11, concluded a seven-day mission focused on searching for nine missing South Korean nationals and supporting recovery efforts before returning home on Oct. 17, according to Yonhap News Agency.
During their deployment, KDRT 2nd contingent members coordinated with the Nepalese military on Oct. 15 and 16 to conduct drone searches. On Oct. 16, the team traveled by helicopter from Dhunche to access restricted areas near the main camp via Ramche, though operations were severely restricted by rugged mountain terrain and safety concerns.
Ongoing Joint Response and Identification Efforts
An eight-member government joint response team remains in Nepal to coordinate with local authorities, assist affected families, and verify the status of missing persons.
The joint teams continue tracking missing individuals alongside local agencies, balancing recovery work with family support as the region works to rebuild damaged infrastructure after the late-September disaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people remain missing following the Nepal floods?
According to the Nepal Disaster Management Authority, 6,150 people were reported missing following the floods that began on Sept. 26.
What was the involvement of the South Korean emergency relief team?
Korea’s Overseas Emergency Relief Team (KDRT) 2nd contingent conducted drone searches and recovery support in the Rasuwa region before wrapping up their active deployment on Oct. 17. An eight-member joint response team stayed behind to assist with family support and DNA identification.
Where are families directing their protests?
Families of missing workers have demonstrated near the Prime Minister’s office and major government ministry buildings in Kathmandu to demand faster search operations.
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