The search for a missing son in Nepal was finally over after a family spent four days searching for him

Ayush Khadka, a 21-year old civil servant from Nepal, was missing for four days after floodwaters ravaged the district of Rasuwa. His family desperately searched for signs that he was still alive.

The Khadkas are among the thousands of 'families' who cling to hope in the chaos caused by a 'glacial -collapse, which sent a deluge unprecedented of ice and rock, mud, and debris through the valley towns and villages of Nepal and China.

Ayush spoke to his family the night before, and the next morning, Ayush's social media account showed him online. This small sign gave the family the hope that he survived.

When reports of extensive destruction were released on August 26, families immediately began a search that would prove to be futile.

Ganesh Khadka, his paternal Uncle, waited for two days near the Nepali Army Maithali Barrack, in Nuwakot. This was one of the primary coordination points near the flood-ravaged area.

Ganesh says that despite sharing Ayush’s name, work place, and last known location with officials, they received little response.

In an attempt to find out more, the relatives desperately tried to reach Timure, the heavily flood-affected town where Ayush was stationed hundreds of kilometers from the Salyan district home. But the roads were destroyed and the government had commandeered all private helicopters for rescue operations.

Laxmi, Ayush’s maternal aunt was looking for him about 200 km away (124 miles), in Chitwan. Bodies had been swept downriver by the flood, and were now being recovered.

Unbeknownst to the majority of family members, authorities recovered a body believed to be Ayush on the day the disaster occurred. The disaster has left at least 939 dead and about 4,000 people missing.

Laxmi went to a temporary holding center on August 27. There, photographs of bodies recovered were displayed for relatives' identification. She was immediately drawn to one image. She said, "I was 70% certain it was him."

Muna Khadka, Ayush's distraught mother, was not shown the photo by the family.

They examined every detail. A mole on Ayush's left side of the chin, and his beard looked identical. The family also recognized a black religious thread known as a "buti" that was worn on his left arm, but had moved to his wrist.

They were still unsure and the search for Ayush went on for several days.

A FAMILY RACE AGAINST THE TIME

Information was often fragmented and received through unofficial channels. Distances between Salyan and Kathmandu, Nuwakot and Chitwan, as well as the border region, complicated any attempt to determine what happened.

As authorities prepared to mass bury unidentified corpses, the uncertainty grew even worse.

The Khadkas feared that victims of distant districts would be buried in Chitwan before their relatives could reach the area and identify them.

Ayush's family did not tell Ayush’s mother that her son had died until August 30, which was four days after the flooding.

They left Salyan around 1 am the next morning and traveled through the night towards Chitwan. After hours of driving, they arrived in Chitwan at 8 a.m. They were exhausted but determined to get the final confirmation.

Standing before the recovered corpse, they confirmed that many people had already feared.

About 35 relatives gathered hours later on the Narayani River's banks to cremate the young man, whose family spent days trying to find a different result.

Laxmi remarked, "We were thrilled when he was born and even happier when he passed his civil service exam at such a young time." "And now he's left us in tears."

(source: Reuters)