A 23-year-old policeman, Ashish, is missing in Nepal's devastating floods. His family, especially his father who raised him by herding sheep, is now searching for him among the dead.
23-year-old policeman Ashish missing after devastating floods in Nepal.The father, who raised his son by herding sheep, is now searching for his only son among the corpses.Ashish had joined the Nepal Police only 17 months ago, and this was his first posting.The death toll from this tragedy in Nepal and Tibet has reached 810, while 3,048 people are still missing.
The devastating floods in Nepal have snatched loved ones from many families. Someone's father is missing, someone's brother cannot be found. Many wives are waiting for their husbands to return. Among them is a family from Kapilvastu, hoping for the return of their 23-year-old son, Ashish.
Who is the Missing Policeman Ashish?
According to 'The Kathmandu Post', 23-year-old Ashish was in the Nepal Police. He was posted at a police post in Mailung, Rasuwa. He has been untraceable since the flood. Five days have passed, but the family is still living in hope of his return.
For Ashish's father, Kredu, this pain is unbearable as Ashish is his only son. The father raised and educated his son by herding sheep. Today, that same helpless father is forced to search for his beloved son among piles of washed-up bodies.
The Last Conversation with His Wife
For Ashish's wife, Priyanka, the ordeal began with a phone call. Around 8:30 in the morning, she was talking to her husband when the call suddenly disconnected. Priyanka tried calling back, but the phone wouldn't connect. A little later, the phone became unreachable.
About half an hour later, she received news of the flood, after which her anxiety turned into fear. Priyanka says she has not received any information about Ashish for five days, but she is still waiting for his return.
Joined the Force Just 17 Months Ago
Ashish had started his job with the Nepal Police only 17 months ago. He had completed nine months of rigorous training, and Mailung was his first posting. When the bodies that washed downstream were brought to the hospital, the family went to a hospital in Kapilvastu. They hoped to find some clue about Ashish, but they were met with disappointment.
A ray of hope still remains in father Kredu's eyes. He says, 'Ashish is my only son. I raised him with great difficulty.' Now, his only prayer is that his son returns home alive and safe.
Searching for Loved Ones in Hospitals
It's not just Ashish's family; many others are also making rounds of hospitals in search of their loved ones. Hemnath Neupane has been wandering through hospitals for three days. In his pocket is a picture of about 28-year-old Prakash Devkota, a customs agent in Rasuwa who has been missing since the flood. Neupane shows the picture at every hospital, asking police officers if the face matches any of the deceased.
The death toll from this tragedy in Nepal and Tibet has reached 810. This includes 794 people from Nepal and 16 from Tibet. In both countries, 3,048 people are still reported missing. With each passing day, the families' anxiety is growing, but hope is not yet lost.
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