“We would be relieved if the government finds my missing brother dead or alive and mobilizes police and army personnel for the purpose,” said Birkha Bahadur Shahi, who himself had a narrow escape during the flooding. Family members of the missing felt that the government had been ignoring their pain.
“The water level in the river has subsided. It would not have been impossible to find the missing,” said Kala Thapa of Murma, whose husband Dhan Singh Thapa has been missing since Tuesday. “Who cares for us poor people, whether it´s river rampage or fire havoc,” she added
Grief-stricken Shamila Neupane, 27, the wife of missing overseer Krishna Neupane, implored the government to expedite the search operation. The overseer was with the district development committee.
Dillydallying by the government in carrying out effective searches for the missing is getting locals riled. According to local journalist Keshab Raj Kathayat, the search operation has so far been ineffective.
“The flood victims have been requesting the authorities to search for their missing kin. But the security agencies haven´t shown enough concern,” said Kathayat. Security personnel from district headquarters Manma reached the incident site only on Wednesday.
“We have not seen any effort being made to search for those missing in the flood,” Satya Devi Upadhyaya, a local teacher, told Republica over the phone. She also accused the government of belittling the victims´ plight by sending some packets of noodles as relief.
The fate of the 11 people from Murma and Sipakhana VDCs who are missing in the flooded Sanniagad river, a day´s trek from district headquarters Manma, is still unknown. Similarly, 55 families displaced by the flood remain without any help from the government. They have reportedly been spending nights under the open sky.
Chief District Officer Jagat Basnet said the local administration is trying its best to bring relief to the victims. He said food and other relief materials would be brought from Nepalguj soon.
Two swept away
Meanwhile, the flooded Thirpu river in Kalikot swept away two people on Tuesday. According to CDO Basnet, Danta Bam, 35, and Satya Bam, 18, of Thirpu VDC were swept way while they were trying to cross a bridge.
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