KUALA LUMPUR: Days after devastating floods struck along the Nepal-Tibet border, families of Malaysians still missing are clinging to hope while waiting for news of their loved ones.
For Jamaliah Tengku Ismail, 67, her last contact with her husband Mohd Nasir Abdul Talib, 68, was at about 3.30am on the day of the devastating flood.
“He was at a hotel there, speaking about the trip and what went on so far. I just really hope that he will be found at the very least,” she said when met during a press conference organised by families of 49 missing Malaysians here yesterday.
Her husband was one of the nine Malaysians, along with professional hiker Mohd Fakhrul Munir Mohd Isa, who is also part of the Fire and Rescue Department’s special forces team.
The other officer who remains missing is senior Fire and Rescue Department officer Mohd Sani Harul.
Ngeow Joanne’s brother, Jason Ngeow, 56, was also part of the same group.
Joanne, 59, said the last time she got in touch with her younger brother was two weeks ago.
“He lives in Kuala Lumpur and is an avid traveller. It’s also his second time heading to that area.
“I’m especially concerned about how my aged parents will receive the news,” she said.
Divya Varshini Krishnan, 29, said the last conversation her father – Krishnan Vadivelu, 74 – had was with her sister.
“They had a phone call, and he spoke about how it was tiring but that he was completely fine. The trip there was also one that had been on his bucket list,” she said, noting that her father lives on his own in Sungai Siput, Perak.
Upon learning about the floods, Divya said she and her siblings gathered and called the embassy for updates on the situation.
“We are hoping for the best. At the same time, we hope that netizens who intend to post comments online should do so with humanity and empathy. We are human too.”
The family of Komathi Rethinam, 48, expressed hope that they will see her again.
“The last conversation we had with her was when she was at the Nepal-Tibet immigration building at about 10am. She was updating us on her whereabouts at the time, and that was the last we spoke,” said a spokesman for the family.
“All of us want to see our loved ones in a safe, sound and healthy manner again,” said the spokesman, hoping for transparent updates on the situation.
Floods and landslides occurred along the Nepal border, affecting the Gyirong Port border crossing in Gyirong County, China, on Wednesday morning.
According to an analysis by the United States Geological Survey, a Himalayan glacial collapse was believed to have triggered the incident, which generated energy equivalent to a 5.2-magnitude earthquake.
At press time, the death toll from the floods and landslides in Nepal had risen to at least 616 while about 2,301 people were injured and receiving treatment.
Thousands more are still unaccounted for.
