Dhunche, Sept. 4 -- In the entirety of Rasuwa's Thulo Bharkhu and Sano Bharkhu settlements, one man appears the calmest. But don't let his composure fool you. Singi Nurpu Lama, an 83-year-old chief priest, quietly carries the realisation that his son and two daughters-in-law may never come back after they went missing in last week's floods.

On Wednesday afternoon, Singi was seated in the hall of his house situated at the edge of Thulo Bharkhu. In front of him stood three photo frames of his family members who have gone missing since last week's devastating floods. The photo frames were draped in white shawls, the colour of grief. Butter lamps and incense burned in front, with food offerings to the missing.

It has been over a week since ...