Woman talks about the search for her parents who are among the missing in Nepal

Shreya Ahuja’s parents remain missing after the monsoon floods that have devastated large parts of Nepal. In a recent interview with NPR host Steve Inskeep, Ahuja described the ongoing search for her parents, who were last seen in the Kathmandu valley before the waters rose and cut off many communities. The flood crisis has left thousands of people unaccounted for, with government and aid agencies reporting that more than 30,000 residents are still missing in the most affected provinces.

The floods began in late July, when heavy monsoon rains caused rivers such as the Bagmati and the Trishuli to overflow. The sudden rise in water levels destroyed homes, washed away roads, and isolated villages that had been connected for decades. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, over 2,000 people have died and more than 500,000 were displaced. Search and rescue teams, comprising local volunteers, police, and international aid workers, have been working around the clock to locate missing persons, but the sheer scale of the disaster has stretched resources thin.

Ahuja, a 28‑year‑old resident of Kathmandu’s Thamel district, says her parents were traveling to a nearby village to help a friend when the floodwaters surged. “They went missing on the night of the first wave,” she told Inskeep. “We have been waiting for any sign that they are alive.” Ahuja’s account reflects the experience of many families across the country, who are left uncertain about the fate of loved ones in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

The Nepalese government has deployed the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Army to conduct extensive search operations. In addition, international agencies such as the Red Cross and the World Food Programme have established relief camps in the hardest hit areas, providing food, shelter, and medical care. The government has also issued a nationwide call for anyone with information about missing persons to contact local authorities. Despite these efforts, the rugged terrain and continuing rainfall have hampered progress in some regions.

Ahuja’s story underscores the personal toll of the floods. She explained that she has been traveling between the city and the affected villages, hoping to find any clues that could lead to her parents’ location. She also described the emotional strain on her family, who have had to deal with the uncertainty while also coping with the loss of property and livelihood. “Every day is a new challenge,” she said. “We keep hoping for news, but the reality is that the flood has taken so much.”

In her interview, Ahuja also highlighted the importance of community solidarity during the crisis. She noted that neighbors in the Thamel area have come together to share resources and provide emotional support to those who have lost family members. “We have to rely on each other,” she said. “The government is doing its best, but we need to help ourselves as well.”

The NPR interview, part of the network’s coverage of the Nepal floods, aims to bring international attention to the plight of families like Ahuja’s. The network has not provided financial support for the story, and it does not accept offers of money for coverage or interviews. The story is part of NPR’s broader reporting on the disaster, which includes updates on rescue operations, the impact on agriculture, and the challenges of delivering aid in remote mountainous areas.

For Ahuja, the search continues as rescue teams work to clear debris and access isolated villages. She remains hopeful that her parents will be found alive, but she also acknowledges that the future is uncertain. Her story is one of many that illustrate the human dimension of the Nepal floods, reminding listeners that behind the statistics of missing people and displaced families are individual families enduring unimaginable loss and uncertainty.