Many Nepalis swept away in the floods aren't officially dead, leaving families in limbo
Summary
Thousands of people went missing after a recent flood near the China-Nepal border, but Nepali law only declares someone legally dead after 12 years, creating problems for families. Many families cannot get official death certificates, which affects their ability to receive compensation and handle legal matters. Recovery efforts are complicated because bodies are hard to find and identify.Key Facts
- More than 5,000 people are still missing after a severe flood near the China-Nepal border.
- Nepali law generally presumes missing people dead only if they have been missing for 12 years.
- Families need death certificates to claim compensation and manage inheritance, but these certificates are hard to get now.
- The government has stopped rescue operations but continues to collect DNA samples to identify bodies.
- Over 1,400 bodies have been recovered, but identifying them is slow and difficult.
- About 7,570 private buildings were damaged or destroyed, affecting nearly 33,000 people.
- Local officials are still discussing how to handle death certificates in this disaster situation.
- Traditional Hindu rituals use symbolic effigies when bodies cannot be recovered, allowing families to perform last rites.
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