Pioneer News Service
Daltonganj
A worried family in Palamu district has sought the intervention of the Jharkhand government and the Centre to trace a 50-year-old man who has been uncontactable in Nepal since August 26, when a catastrophic flash flood reportedly hit the bordering areas of Nepal and Tibet.
The missing man has been identified as Mahender Vishwakarma, a resident of Barwadeeh village under Mohammadganj police station limits in Palamu district, said Hussainabad SDPO Divyansh Shukla.
Vishwakarma’s wife, Kalawati Devi, 44, submitted a written application at the Mohammadganj police station on August 27, stating that she had been unable to contact her husband since August 26. She has sought the authorities’ assistance in locating and tracking him in Nepal, the SDPO said.
According to the application, Vishwakarma had travelled to Nepal around two months ago in search of employment. He was working with Andritz Hydro Pvt Ltd at New Baneshwar, Shankhamul Marg, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, his wife said.
Speaking to the Pioneer over the phone on Friday, Kalawati Devi said she had last spoken to her husband on the night of August 25 at around 9.45 pm.
“He was unwell. He told me that he would be on leave on August 26,” she said.
She recalled that Vishwakarma called her at around 8.07 am on August 26, but she could not answer the call.
“I repent like anything now. After some time, I made frantic calls to him, but there was no response,” she said.
According to her, she was later informed that a devastating flash flood had struck Nepal at around 9 am on August 26 (IST).
“There has been no phone call from him since then,” she said, expressing concern over his safety.
Kalawati has appealed to Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the Government of India to take up the matter with the Nepalese authorities and seek assistance in tracing her husband.
The family has also sought information regarding the safety and whereabouts of Indian workers in the affected area, either from the Nepal government or from the organisation where Vishwakarma was employed.
Visibly distressed, Kalawati said she was living with constant fear and uncertainty and was praying for her husband’s safe return.
“It is a great irony that I now take every call very hurriedly, which I failed to do on the morning of August 26, hoping that the next call will bring news that he has been found safe in Nepal,” she said.
Meanwhile, officials at the Migrant Control Room run by the labour department in the State said that they are yet to get any information about the man. They said they would find out and take appropriate action on the matter.
