“My three relatives are alive or dead, I don’t know anything.”
Photo Collected
They were three relatives of Thapa Magar who went to work in the district before the disaster in Nepal. There has been no trace of them since the flash flood. phone off Can’t communicate. No one in the family knows where they are, how they are. Sitting in Chittagong, Tara spends every moment in anxiety. He said, ‘My three relatives are alive or dead; don’t know anything Sitting so far from the country, just waiting. What can be more helpless time than this.
The 20-year-old is a final year student of the Public Health Department of the Asian University for Women in Chittagong. His home is in Khanra Devi Municipality of Rameshap District, Nepal. Talked to him yesterday Thursday evening. They said, “I am scared, worried. I did not imagine such a terrible incident.
Flash floods and landslides in Nepal last Wednesday caused a huge loss of life. According to the latest local media reports, the death toll in Nepal has risen to 359. Between Nepal and Tibet, about one and a half thousand people are still missing. Among them are a large number of foreign tourists and pilgrims to Kailash-Manas Sarovar.
A mudslide in the Bhotekoshi Basin is initially believed to have been caused by a large landslide of ice, rock and mud near the Tibetan border that fell into the river. The flood went down the river Trishuli and caused extensive damage to settlements, roads, bridges and power infrastructure. Rescue operation is still going on in remote areas. The floods directly affected three districts.
According to the authorities of Asian University for Women, 40 students from Nepal are studying in the university. They have been searching for their families since the disaster. Someone is spreading verified information and emergency contact numbers. Some are again taking initiatives to collect aid for the distressed people.
The students first heard about the flood on Facebook. He tries to communicate with family members and relatives after seeing the news. He has spoken to close family members in the city. They are safe. However, the relatives of the village could not be contacted due to internet problems.
Tara’s home area is also safe so far. No major damage was reported. But the communication system has broken down in the district where the three missing relatives were working. Reliable information is also not available due to disruption of phone network and road communication.
Referring to these facts, they told Prothom Alo, ‘I was very scared at first. Relatives could not be reached on phone. No one could tell where he was, what had happened. Apart from three relatives, other members of the family are safe.
Tara is afraid that floods may start in her area. But all his worries now revolve around the three missing relatives. He said, ‘Many families like my family are waiting for a news of missing people. Now the most important task is to find them.
Friend’s uncle is also missing
Sushmita Rokao, a resident of Tanahun, Nepal, is in her final year of Public Health at the Asian University for Women. His parents are safe in Kathmandu. There was no major damage to their house in Tanahun. However, his acquaintances were affected by the disaster.
One of Sushmita’s neighbors, an army officer, was affected by the floods. His close friend’s uncle was working in Rasua. He has not been contacted since the disaster.
Sushmita told Prothom Alo, ‘After getting the news, I called home first. I am relieved to know that my parents are safe. But a familiar person is still missing. It hurts to think what condition his family is in.
Within an hour of the incident, Sushmita received news of the flood in the media and social media. Since then he has been regularly tracing family and acquaintances. According to him, dead bodies floating from the affected areas upstream are also being recovered in Trishuli River in Tanahun. This has spread panic among the people of the riverside area. He has learned that identifying the identity of the rescued persons has also become a big problem.
Sushmita said, ‘Some are looking for relatives, some are waiting for a phone call. Again, the body is found somewhere, but the identity is not known. Families at least want to know where their loved ones are.
Nepalese students in Bangladesh are now trying to stay by each other’s side. Sushmita said, through Women Nepali Students Organization Bangladesh in coordination with Nepal Embassy, the online address of the official donation of Nepal government is being spread. They are also requesting assistance in rescue, relief, treatment, shelter and rehabilitation.
Sushmita said, ‘We cannot go to Nepal and stand by the people. However, we are trying to convey the right information and help request to the people.
“Horrible incident”
No one in the family of Anita Timalsina, a resident of Lalitpur, Nepal, was directly affected. Their houses are far from the flood affected area. But pictures and videos of the devastation circulating on social media upset him.
22-year-old Anita is a third-year student of Public Health. Anita said, ‘The mind is in Nepal. I can’t concentrate on anything. Photos and videos of floods are floating in front of our eyes again and again. I feel very helpless sitting away.
Anita first saw the flood news on Facebook. Then contacted the family. Everyone is safe. However, the severity of the incident has also stunned them. Anita said, “I saw pictures and videos of the flood on Facebook. This is a terrible thing. No one could have imagined such a disaster. How many people have lost their homes, land, family and livelihood. I am just trying to feel their suffering, sitting away.’
Apart from rescue work, shelter, food, clean water, clothes and medicine are the most needed in the affected area, said three students. They called for quick tracing of missing persons and rescuers to reach trapped people.
Anita said, ‘In such a difficult time even a small help can go a long way for someone. Bangladesh and the international community should stand by the affected people of Nepal.
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