165 Nepali pilgrims still missing in Uttarakhand

KATHMANDU, Aug 16: The whereabouts of at least 165 Nepali nationals, who are believed to have been trapped in the massive flood and landslide triggered by incessant rainfall in Indian state of Uttarakhanda in June are yet to be known, according to the government.



The Nepali embassy in New Delhi has confirmed that 165 Nepali pilgrims are still missing as per the information given by victims´ families. The missing Nepali \\\\ nationals are feared to have been killed in the massive floods and landslides that struck various pilgrimage sites of Uttarakhand from June 15 to 19. [break]



Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Spokesperson Dipak Dhital said efforts are under way to trace the missing Nepali nationals in Uttarakhand. “Our embassy in New Delhi is in constant touch with local authorities of India. Efforts are currently under way to trace the missing Nepali pilgrims,” Dhital told media persons.



The government´s announcement comes amid complaints by several families in various parts of Nepal that the government has not done enough to trace the whereabouts of their missing kin. The families of the missing pilgrims have sought help from both the MoFA and the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi seeking help to locate their kin.



Local Indian authorities had helped rescue hundreds of stranded Nepali pilgrims from the flood and landslide-hit areas including Badrinath, Kedarnath and Haridwar. “Our embassy in New Delhi is working closely with local Indian authorities to help trace the Nepali nationals believed to be missing in those areas,” Dhital further said.



The government has announced it would ask the Indian authorities to conduct DNA test on the bodies to ascertain the identities of the deceased as Indian authorities continue to recover dead bodies in the flood and landslide-hit areas.

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