Nepal Ends Flood Search Operations, Families Divided on Decision

Nepal has announced an end to search and rescue operations for victims of the Aug. 26 flood, which claimed at least 1,455 lives with thousands more still unaccounted for. The government's decision, announced late Monday, has elicited a range of responses from family members of the 5,285 people still missing, including hundreds of foreign nationals.

The administration of Prime Minister Balendra Shah stated that its efforts will now concentrate on rehabilitation and reconstruction, aiming to restore essential infrastructure like roads and bridges. These routes have been severely damaged by the floods, particularly in remote areas, hindering the delivery of aid.

The government estimates the cost of reconstruction and recovery efforts at $4.77 billion. The disaster has affected nearly 33,000 people, with approximately 7,500 homes damaged or destroyed.

Hopes for finding survivors had been buoyed by the rescue of two Nepalese workers from an underground tunnel at the Trishuli hydropower project on Sept. 4, followed by the discovery of a Chinese man at the same location two days later. However, for many, these isolated successes have not translated into reunions.

Some families of flood victims have organized protests and vigils, urging for an improvement and continuation of the search efforts. Usha Khatri, whose husband is among the missing, expressed anger at the government's decision to cease operations. "I am so angry at the government for giving up on search and rescue with thousands of people still missing. I just don’t understand how they can do that when we still have hope left that our loved one can still be found," Khatri said.

Khatri has been searching for her husband in towns along the river where bodies have been recovered, some of which have been buried for preservation pending identification. "Either they have to give up the body or show some solid proof that my husband is gone and then only they can declare him dead," she stated.

Conversely, other family members have welcomed the end of the search, expressing a desire for closure and seeking official death certificates. Nirajan Poudel, who lost five family members, said, "After so many days and weeks there is little or no hope of finding anyone alive. We are sure that none of our family members survived and we are just looking for a closure."

For families like Poudel's, the inability to obtain death certificates has created further distress. In Nepal, these documents are crucial for accessing compensation, insurance benefits, and inheriting property. The government has reportedly refused to issue certificates, citing the need for legal amendments. Legal experts note that practical complications in determining the number of flood victims are hindering the process.

Several individuals whose relatives are still missing have performed symbolic funerals, a significant rite in Hindu tradition that offers spiritual release even without the physical presence of the deceased.