Kathmandu, Oct. 15 -- Nepal's disaster authority has begun collecting official details of people missing in the August 26 Bhotekoshi floods, a move that will allow the government to declare the missing dead and provide relief to their families.

The process began on October 9, following a decision by the executive committee of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). Applications must be verified by the disaster management committee of the local government where the missing person was permanently resident before being forwarded to the relevant district committee.

The authority has established separate procedures for Nepali and foreign nationals. Who can apply, what happens if an entire family is missing, an...