Eighty-four people from Tamil Nadu remain missing following severe floods that hit Nepal on August 26, according to officials. A total of 305 Tamil Nadu residents were reported to have been caught in the disaster, of whom 220 were rescued.
To support search and coordination efforts, a three-member team of Tamil Nadu government officials stayed in Kathmandu for more than 50 days. The team was involved in efforts to trace the missing persons and coordinate with local authorities.
In the first week of September, blood samples were collected from relatives of the missing to help with identification through DNA testing. The Tamil Nadu government shared the test results with the Nepal government for further verification.
However, officials said no information has been received so far from the Nepal government regarding the status of the missing Tamils. The Tamil Nadu officials’ team has since returned to Chennai and submitted a report to the state government.
Relatives continue to contact the control room set up by the Department of Overseas Tamils Welfare every day, hoping for updates. Officials said they are struggling to respond in the absence of confirmed information, while allegations have also surfaced that ministers and MLAs have not met the families of those missing.
