Rasuwa/kathmandu, Sept. 1 -- year-old Samir Tamang reached his school in Khalte, Rasuwa, the Bhotekoshi river had already turned into a roaring torrent of debris. Samir, an eighth grader at Nilakantha Secondary School, scrambled up a nearby hill to save his life. But his two younger sisters-13-year-old Priya and seven-year-old Parbati-were at home. They have been missing ever since the torrent swept through their village on Wednesday.

"My youngest sister had an injury on her hand and could not attend school, so my older sister stayed back to take care of her," said Samir, his voice breaking as he sat inside a crowded temporary holding centre at Shivalaya Basic School in Laharepauwa, Rasuwa. "I don't know what to do anymore. My sisters we...