Nepal cuts 12-year wait to declare missing flood victims dead

· Politics · Nepal

Nepal has slashed a 12-year waiting period to declare missing flood victims dead, a move that will let families of the more than 5,000 people still missing after the August 26 disaster access legal closure, inheritance and insurance processes. The change responds to one of South Asia's deadliest recent floods, which left thousands unaccounted for and overwhelmed authorities' ability to identify remains. The shorter waiting period is intended to ease the legal and financial burden on grieving families.

Why it matters：The measure reflects the scale of a disaster that overwhelmed identification efforts and the legal needs of thousands of families.

Key points

  • More than 5,000 people remain missing after the Aug 26 disaster.
  • The waiting period was cut from 12 years.
  • The change eases inheritance and insurance processes for families.

Sources (original reporting)

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