Bengaluru, Sept 12 (IANS) The Isha Foundation said on Saturday that 77 participants of the Kailash Manasarovar sojourn and three volunteers remain still unaccounted for, two weeks after flash floods struck the Nepal-Tibet border.
In an update, the foundation said the number of unaccounted persons remains unchanged from its previous update and that authorities have indicated identification work at the site is still underway.
“Given the conditions, identification work may take considerable time,” the foundation said, adding that it remains committed to assisting the authorities in the process and would provide support as required.
The Isha Foundation said its priority was to support the families affected by the disaster and provide them with verified information as soon as it becomes available.
The foundation added that it remains in regular contact with Chinese, Indian and Nepali authorities as well as the relevant embassies of 19 countries in India, Nepal and China.
Its teams are following up through official channels to obtain information about the affected individuals, understand official procedures and ensure information received through government and consular channels reaches the families.
Identification details, photographs and other relevant information have also been shared with authorities and search-and-rescue teams wherever appropriate to assist identification and search efforts.
Isha volunteers have also been in touch with agencies, including the US State Department and Global Affairs Canada to seek updates from the Chinese government.
The foundation said that information about processes communicated by Chinese authorities to families of one nationality was also shared with other governments so they could seek similar information for their nationals.
The foundation said any information that can appropriately be released would first be communicated to the affected families and made public only where legally, ethically and appropriately possible.
It also added that it would protect the anonymity and privacy of affected families and volunteers and would not release their names, photographs or personal information publicly or to media organisations.
Regarding access to the disaster site, the foundation said that access to Gyirong Port on the Chinese side of the Nepal-Tibet border remains restricted by Chinese authorities for forensic and rescue purposes.
Access on the Nepal side is also restricted by Nepali authorities.
“No private individuals or organisations have been allowed near the site,” it added.
Isha volunteers had been stationed in Gyirong Town to obtain updates on relief operations but were later asked by Chinese authorities to leave the area along with other non-official personnel.
In Nepal, around 25 Nepali volunteers have been deployed to assist with ground coordination.
The foundation said their ability to speak the local language had helped in coordinating with hospitals, mortuaries, police, government offices and other local authorities.
The volunteers have approached the Nepal Police and Nepal Tourist Police, shared the full list of affected individuals and available documentation, and established points of contact.
They have also remained in regular communication with the authorities.
Through its volunteer network, Isha Foundation said contact had also been established with the Nepali Army and information about the missing individuals had been shared with search-and-rescue personnel.
The foundation said its teams were regularly monitoring official Nepali and Chinese government and police sources for updates on rescue operations and identification.
Following the disaster, when there was initially no clear centralised information system, volunteers personally visited hospitals and mortuaries to collect available information and understand the identification process. They have continued checking with these facilities regularly.
The team also visited the DNA centre to understand the identification process and requirements.
The foundation said that DNA identification procedures differed between countries and were therefore being coordinated through the respective consular services.
Information and procedures received from embassies and authorities are being communicated to affected families, particularly emergency contacts, to ensure they receive official updates and understand the next steps.
The foundation added that media access was granted to international press on the 12th day after the disaster, but reports so far had not provided any new facts.
A dedicated team of volunteers is also responding to emails and calls through a hotline operating across eight countries.
The foundation said it would endeavour to respond to queries within 24 hours.
The foundation is also assisting families with practical matters, including working with the Nepal tour operator and DHL to arrange shipment of belongings left behind by participants in Kathmandu.
It expressed gratitude to emergency workers, Nepali, Chinese and Indian embassies, diplomats, government authorities, police, search-and-rescue teams and forensic teams involved in the ongoing operation.
The foundation added that it would continue following up with local authorities and emergency services and share relevant information with affected families as soon as it becomes available.
–IANS
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