In Brief:

• 42 residents remain missing from Ramechhap after August 26 flood
• 66 initially reported missing, 24 later traced
• Missing from Ramechhap and Manthali municipalities, plus Khandadevi, Doramba Shailung, Gokul Ganga, Umakunda, Likhu Tamakoshi rural municipalities
• Families report last phone contact from Rasuwa area before disaster
• District Disaster Committee listed 45 missing, later police reported 66

RAMECHHAP, AUGUST 30 Families in Ramechhap are still waiting for news of 42 people who remain out of contact following the devastating Bhotekoshi River flood in neighbouring Rasuwa on August 26. The missing residents had travelled to Timure, Rasuwagadhi and other areas of Rasuwa for employment, business and other work before the flood struck. Some had called their families shortly before the disaster, saying they were preparing to return home, but relatives have been unable to contact them since. According to the District Police Office, Ramechhap, 66 people from the district were initially reported missing after the flood. Of them, 24 have since contacted their families or relatives, while 42 remain unaccounted for. The missing people are from Ramechhap and Manthali municipalities, as well as Khandadevi, Doramba Shailung, Gokul Ganga, Umakunda and Likhu Tamakoshi rural municipalities, among other local levels. The District Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee had earlier released details of 45 missing people, while police later reported 66 cases, of which 24 have been traced. The continued lack of information has heightened anxiety among families, who have urged the local administration, police and security agencies to step up efforts to establish their relatives' whereabouts. Meanwhile, Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel continue search and rescue operations in flood-hit areas. Authorities are still working to establish the exact number of deaths and missing people following the disaster.