Sep 07, Kathmandu - Families of Nepali workers missing after the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in the Bhote Koshi River of Rasuwa have taken to the streets, demanding immediate rescue efforts. On Monday Bhadra 22, they gathered at Kathmandu’s Maitighar to seek updates on their loved ones who remain uncontacted.

One of the missing workers is Sajan Chaudhary from Surunga Municipality, Saptari. He was working as a QA engineer at the Upper Trishuli-3 ‘B’ hydropower project. His sister, Lima Chaudhary, traveled from Kathmandu to join the protest, demanding rescue for her brother.

Lima recounted that Sajan was at the hydroelectric project during the devastating flood on Bhadra 10. Despite 13 days passing, she criticized the government for its lack of active rescue efforts. “My brother has not been rescued, while others who were sleeping nearby have been saved,” she said.

She mentioned that some colleagues working with Sajan had been rescued by the Nepal Army. “It’s been 13 days. It’s too late now. Even if he were alive, it’s probably too late,” Lima added. “We are desperately heading to the concerned office (Sino Hydropower), but there is no news about him.”

Lima searched from hospitals to Bidur, Nuwakot, to find any information about Sajan’s condition. Unable to locate him, she joined others in protesting to pressure the government for answers.

“We are all crying and just want to know my brother’s condition,” she pleaded. “Please, rescue him no matter what.”

Similar stories are emerging from across the country, with relatives bringing photos of their missing loved ones to Maitighar in hopes of finding them. Among them is Prabhu Narayan Shah from Bhojpur, Sunsari, who has come to Kathmandu with a photo of his 36-year-old brother, Shyam Narayan Shah, an employee at the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project.

Shyam Narayan went missing after informing his family that he was heading into a tunnel at around 8:15 am on Bhadra 10. Since then, he has been uncontactable.

“We spoke around 8:15 am; everything seemed normal. When we heard about the flood, we contacted the police, who confirmed he was inside the project,” Prabhu said. He traveled from Kathmandu to the project site but had to turn back due to the floodwaters.

He remains hopeful for his brother’s rescue, saying, “He might be hiding somewhere in the mountains or jungle. All search efforts, including tunnels A, B, and C, should have found him.”

Others, like Roshan Oli from Maitighar, also expressed frustration over the government’s slow rescue efforts. Roshun’s mother, Gita Ojha, from Sandakpur, Morang, and his 2.5-year-old niece, Kiansa, are still missing.

Gita was moved to the Upper Trishuli-3 ‘B’ project area 26 days before the flood, but she remains unaccounted for. “My 65-year-old mother was rescued, but we hope my sister and brother are alive,” Roshan said. “If the government had conducted faster searches, they might have been rescued.”

Relatives like Chaudhary, Shah, and Oli, holding photos of their missing loved ones, continue to gather at Maitighar, protesting for immediate rescue and answers.