Families of missing Malaysians request detailed SAR briefings in Nepal tragedy as SMART prepares to return

Rescue personnel use a bulldozer to remove sludge along a road in the aftermath of flash floods at Devighat in Nepal’s Nuwakot district September 11, 2026. The family of N. Kalaiselvi, a Malaysian reported missing in the Nepal landslide tragedy, hopes the relevant authorities will continue to provide updates on the search and rescue efforts following the impending return of the Malaysian Special Search and Rescue Team (SMART). — AFP pic

First Published: Monday, 14 Sep 2026 10:23 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 — The family of N. Kalaiselvi, a Malaysian reported missing in the Nepal landslide tragedy, hopes the relevant authorities will continue to provide updates on the search and rescue (SAR) efforts following the impending return of the Malaysian Special Search and Rescue Team (SMART).

Her daughter, Kritikaa Joyce De Brito, said the family deeply appreciates the government’s efforts and understands the constraints faced by rescuers on the ground, but hopes that a clear picture of the areas already surveyed by the team can be shared to ease their anxiety.

She said her 65-year-old mother was among 27 Malaysians who went to Mount Kailash in Tibet, China, to perform religious rituals, before being reported out of contact due to the natural disaster in the Rasuwa district.

“I understand that this assignment involves approval from Nepal, logistical factors, weather, and terrain conditions.

“However, as the next of kin, we request that the relevant parties share a clear picture of the debris or forest areas that have been systematically surveyed before the SMART team is withdrawn,” she told Bernama.

According to Kritikaa, a detailed explanation of the field activity results is very important for family members to ensure that all reasonable efforts have been made during this extremely difficult time.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan informed that the SMART team is expected to return to Malaysia on Saturday or Sunday, following the SAR operations nearing the end and not much more can be done by the team.

However, he said the Nepalese government has not officially decided to end the SAR operations yet because there are still about 5,000 individuals categorised as unaccounted for due to the disaster. — Bernama