Kathmandu, Aug. 31 -- Kaisang Nurpu Tamang, the chairperson of Gosaikunda Rural Municipality in Rasuwa, is confronting the disaster on a deeply personal level. Seven of his relatives remain missing following last Wednesday's devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi river. To make matters worse, the rural municipality's vice-chair Pratima Tamang and two ward chairs are also unaccounted for.

Balancing personal grief with public duty, Kaisang finds himself navigating his own loss and the mounting frustration of displaced residents.

"I am trying to serve our people while carrying this overwhelming grief," said Kaisang. "Our local unit is the worst affected. Roads have been severed, power grids destroyed, and mobile networks are down. Relief sup...