Nepal's government announced this week that it is halting search operations for people still missing after devastating floods that struck weeks ago, leaving thousands unaccounted for. The decision has provoked sharply divided reactions among victims' families.
According to officials, search efforts continued for weeks after flash floods ravaged swathes of the country, but authorities have now concluded there is no longer any prospect of finding survivors or recovering more bodies.
Reactions from families
Some families expressed anger, saying the search effort has been inadequate and that they have been left behind while still lacking any information about their loved ones. Others, however, described a measure of relief, saying the decision to stop the searches ends a grueling period of waiting and allows them to begin the process of recovery.
The floods are regarded as one of the most serious natural disasters Nepal has faced in recent years, inflicting heavy losses in both lives and property. Thousands of people remain listed as missing after the waters receded.
The end of the search raises questions about disaster response and resettlement support for survivors, as well as the authorities' responsibility toward families still waiting for word of their relatives.
