Nepal Floods: Body Believed to Be Nepali National From Group With 23 Malaysians Found

A body believed to be that of a Nepalese national from a tour group that included 23 Malaysians has been found in the Trishuli area as search-and-rescue operations entered their sixth day following the flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border.

The body was discovered on Sunday, approximately 75 to 80 kilometres from the last known location of the group travelling with Leaf Holidays.

Representative of the families, Dr R Manivannan, said authorities are now awaiting the arrival of the victim’s next of kin for identification procedures and DNA testing to confirm the person’s identity.

He said unofficial information about the discovery was received from an agent in Nepal after a photograph of the victim was reportedly believed to resemble one of the members of the tour group.

“However, this information is still unofficial, and we are awaiting confirmation from the authorities and the results of the DNA test,” he told Astro AWANI on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Manivannan said the number of Malaysians recorded under Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope (MASFIH) has increased to 51, compared with 49 previously.

Two new names were added following a press conference on Saturday, bringing the total number of Malaysians who remain unaccounted for to 51. The group comprises eight Malays, one Chinese and 42 Indians.

In a related development, Manivannan said MASFIH received an email response from the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday informing them that Malaysia’s Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) would be mobilised to Nepal to assist with search-and-rescue operations, as well as efforts to locate and bring affected Malaysians home.

However, he said MASFIH had yet to receive official confirmation of when the SMART team would depart.

“Through unofficial channels, we received information that the SMART team is expected to be deployed on Sept 1, tomorrow (Tuesday).

“We are now entering the sixth day, and every hour is crucial. Therefore, I briefed Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo at around 11.45pm last night (Sunday) on the need for the SMART team to be deployed earlier,” he said.

Manivannan said several related matters were also discussed during the briefing, with Gobind taking note of the concerns and informing him that the matter would be brought up for discussion with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Monday.

He said the families hoped search-and-rescue efforts would be strengthened immediately, not only for the 49 individuals yet to be located but for all 55 Malaysians believed to have been affected by the floods along the Nepal-Tibet border.

He added that, as of Sunday, none of the Malaysians involved had been officially reported as having been found.

Malaysia has also begun discussions with the Chinese government regarding search-and-rescue efforts for Malaysians who may be in the Tibet border area.

However, Manivannan said no final decision had been made on whether to send Malaysian SAR or SMART personnel into the area through China.

He also said the Chinese government had informed them that 36 Malaysians could not be contacted on the Tibet side of the border and had been classified as missing.

However, the figure still needs to be reviewed to determine the group’s actual location.

“We need to establish whether they entered China or Tibet through China, entered Tibet through the Nepal-Tibet border, or were leaving the area through the Nepal-Tibet border.

“This is important to ensure that the actual number of Malaysians affected by the flash floods in the Nepal-Tibet area can be accurately determined,” he said.

Meanwhile, Manivannan said more families had been receiving calls from Wisma Putra to obtain details of suitable next of kin before they are added to a WhatsApp group managed by Wisma Putra’s consular assistants.

He also said MASFIH had received information that Wisma Putra was working to obtain priority assistance from the police for DNA sample collection, with support from the Department of Chemistry.

“For the purpose of collecting DNA samples, suitable next of kin are being identified to provide samples, rather than simply friends of the victims,” he said.

Manivannan also reiterated the families’ earlier request for a liaison officer to be appointed to ensure communication between the families and authorities is more organised and that the information received is accurate.

“Unfortunately, to this day, we have yet to receive any response from Wisma Putra or the Malaysian Embassy in Nepal regarding the matter,” he said.

As search-and-rescue operations continue, families of the missing Malaysians remain hopeful for further information and confirmation from authorities.

Source / Image Credit : Awani