Families of 37 people from Bengal who remain untraced after flash floods in Nepal have been assured of continued rescue efforts and administrative support, including the deployment of two officials to assist each affected household.
The relatives met chief minister Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna on Wednesday and sought updates on the rescue operation, DNA profiling and documentation needed to manage financial and official procedures. They also raised difficulties involving joint bank accounts, pension payments and access to documents confirming whether their relatives were missing or dead.
According to official records cited by the families, 39 people from Bengal went missing after the floods in Nepal on August 26. Two people, a couple from Basirhat, were rescued, leaving 37 still untraced as of Wednesday.
Ushanish Mandal, whose parents Swapan Mandal and Mou Mandal were part of a tourist group that went missing, said the chief minister had asked the families not to lose hope. “The chief minister advised us not to lose hope. He said the rescue operation is underway,” Mandal said.
Mandal had travelled to Nepal with other family members and representatives of the tour group to search for his parents, but returned without finding them. The families also sought an update on DNA samples collected as part of the identification process. “We asked whether there were any updates about our DNA samples. The chief minister said it is still under process,” Mandal said.
The proposed deployment of two officials for each family is intended to help relatives deal with immediate administrative and financial issues. The officials are expected to assist with matters including access to joint bank accounts and arrangements for essential household requirements, according to the relatives who attended the meeting.
Gunja Mukherjee, whose younger sister Rina Banerjee is among the missing, said her family was struggling to withdraw money from a joint account because her sister’s signature was required. Mukherjee said the chief minister had assured them that officials would guide families through the process so they did not face further difficulties.
The relatives said pension payments for pensioners among those missing would continue. They also said the government would consider providing jobs to families of missing people who were employed. Adhikari handed over one month of his salary to the wife and toddler of one missing man, according to the report.
The families requested official documents confirming that their relatives were missing or dead so they could proceed with institutional and financial processes. The request highlights the administrative complications that arise when families lack a final death record or a formal missing-person document while rescue and identification operations continue.
Subhranagshu Roy, whose wife Sharmistha Bhownik Roy was part of the group, said a board had been formed to examine Income Tax-related complaints involving the missing people. Roy is the son of political leader Mukul Roy.
The rescue operation, DNA profiling and proposed administrative assistance remain ongoing. Families are awaiting further updates on identification and the status of those who remain untraced.
