Cuttack: There is some relief for families from Odisha caught up in the Nepal flood disaster, but one family is still waiting for answers.
Ten people from Odisha who were in Nepal have been traced and confirmed safe, according to officials. At the same time, an Odia couple settled in Melbourne remains untraceable in one of the worst-hit areas near the Nepal-Tibet border.
The couple, Sandeep Mohapatra and Sidharthi Kumari from Khurda district, travelled to Nepal on August 22 and were reportedly planning to continue towards Kailash Mansarovar.
Their family last spoke to them around 8 pm on August 25.
Their last known GPS location was traced near the immigration counter at Timure, close to the Nepal-Tibet border. The area suffered some of the worst damage in the disaster.
Their tour guide is also untraceable.
The Odisha government has alerted the Ministry of External Affairs and is working with authorities to try to establish contact with the couple.
For their family, the situation remains particularly difficult because there has been no confirmed information about their safety.
At the same time, there have been several positive developments involving other people from Odisha.
Kulsum Nigar, a 21-year-old woman from Baripada in Mayurbhanj district, was earlier reported missing after she went trekking in Nepal. She has since contacted her family and confirmed that she is safe with members of her trekking group.
Poor telephone connectivity had made it difficult for her to stay in contact.
A group of six students from Bhubaneswar who travelled to Nepal for a football match has also been confirmed safe in Pokhara. Their coach is with them, and efforts are being made to help the group return home.
A three-member group from Puri has also been accounted for. Officials said the group safely crossed into India through the Raxaul check post.
These developments have brought some relief to families who were initially unable to contact relatives in Nepal.
The Odisha government has appointed Pritish Panda as the nodal officer to coordinate assistance for people from the state who are stranded or missing in Nepal. The state is working with the Ministry of External Affairs and other authorities to collect information and follow up on individual cases.
But the case of the Khurda couple remains unresolved.
Their last known location is in an area where rescue operations have been particularly difficult because roads and other routes have been badly damaged.
For families waiting for a phone call, every confirmed piece of information matters.
The Odisha government is continuing its efforts to trace people from the state and provide updates to their families as information becomes available.
For now, ten people have been safely accounted for. One Odia couple is still missing, and their family is waiting for news.
