37 days later, missing Malaysian returns home safely from Nepal
KUALA LUMPUR: One of the 55 Malaysians reported to have lost contact following floods and landslides in Nepal last August has been confirmed safe and has returned to Malaysia.
Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope (MASFIH) spokesman Dr Manivannan Rethinam said the man went to the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu on his own yesterday before departing for home and arriving in the country this morning.
He said the matter was conveyed by the Foreign Ministry through the next-of-kin WhatsApp group, ‘KLN-NOK’, this morning, but the individual’s name was not disclosed.
“The individual was travelling alone and was the only solo traveller among the original list of 55 Malaysians (reported missing) who has now been confirmed safe.
READ MORE: Families of Nepal disaster victims seek legal help over assets, debts
“We were informed that the individual was at Nagthali Viewpoint at 3.26 pm on Aug 25, a day before the floods and landslides occurred. Nagthali Viewpoint is a highland area and is situated at a much higher elevation than the Rasuwagadhi area,” he said in a statement today.
Manivannan said based on information from the family, the man was stranded following the destruction of roads and bridges, as well as the lack of electricity, clean water and telecommunications access, which made movement difficult.
He said the development provided an important indication that disaster victims could be safe but stranded and uncontactable for an extended period due to damage to basic infrastructure and disruption to communication facilities.
He said this development means 54 Malaysians remain missing, with all of them travelling in separate groups.
“For MASFIH, this development is not merely a change in the number from 55 to 54. It is about a family finally being reunited with their loved one after 37 days of uncertainty.
“We hope his safe return will continue to be a beacon of hope for the other 54 families that their loved ones may also still be out there and may one day return to them,” he said.
The floods and debris flows on Aug 26, triggered by glacial ice and rock collapses in the upper catchment area of Lhende Khola in Tibet, were reported to have claimed more than 1,450 lives, while thousands more remain unaccounted for.
