Nepal Floods: Families Desperately Search for Missing Loved Ones

A crowd gathered early Thursday morning at the Nepali Army’s military training center in Maithali, Nuwakot, as traffic police struggled to manage the growing number of relatives searching for family members missing in the Bhotekoshi flash flood since Wednesday morning.

Some relatives inquired if their family members' names appeared on the army's list of rescued individuals. Others pleaded with officials to intensify search efforts and provide information about their missing loved ones. Many left the names and details of their missing relatives with Army officials at the barracks' entrance, hoping for any news.

Among those waiting for updates was Shashikala Khatiwada, whose husband, Dipak Rimal, works at the Trishuli 3A hydropower project. He messaged her from inside the tunnel on Wednesday afternoon, stating he and his colleagues were safe but needed rescue. A later message indicated the gate was blocked, and he asked for a way out. Khatiwada said her husband reported 35 workers were trapped, but she has received no further updates despite rescue officials claiming they are still searching.

Government records indicate that 910 people, including 517 foreigners, are missing in the floods. Another case involves Som Bahadur Ghale, a driver who went to the Rasuwa customs office to ferry electric vehicles from China. His wife, Biskila Tamang, has had no contact since Wednesday morning. She expressed her distress, stating she has no idea if her husband is alive or dead after two days without contact.

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We came to know through his messages that there are 35 people with him.