Aunt of missing Malaysian in Nepal recounts final phone call

Social Issues & Public Opinion Calculating...

Kritik
04 Sep 2026
27
SubCategory | Public Sentiment

Aunt of missing Malaysian in Nepal recounts final phone call

KUALA LUMPUR: The families of about 30 Malaysians still missing in flood-hit Nepal are clinging to hope for their safe return, with one woman traumatised by a last phone call from a loved one.

Nithya, 65, said the last thing she remembers from her conversation with her niece, lawyer Venilla Muniandy, was the sound of a loud thud before the phone line suddenly went dead.

“I was speaking to her on the day she went missing. She told me she was on a bus and while we were talking, I heard a loud thud.

“Immediately after that sound, the line was cut. She was at the place where the floods happened,” Nithya told reporters after attending a prayer gathering for missing Malaysians at the Sri Arulmigu Ramalingeswarar Temple in Bangsar on Wednesday.

Nithya said Venilla had travelled with a group of friends, most of whom were lawyers, and had been excited about the trip.

“She went there so happily. Before leaving, she even sent us group pictures of them at the KL International Airport.

“Now, all of them are missing and we still do not know what happened to them.”

The family has heard that the bus the group was travelling in may have been swept away or submerged in the floods but has yet to receive confirmation of what happened to them.

For families like Nithya’s, uncertainty has turned the days since the disaster into an agonising wait for even the smallest piece of news.

Nithya was among more than 50 devotees who gathered at the temple to pray for Malaysians still unaccounted for following last week’s flash floods in Nepal and Tibet.

Organised by the Malaysia Hindudharma Maamandram, the gathering saw devotees, including families of the missing, take part in bhajan singing, chanting and prayers for those who died and those still unaccounted for.

Its president Rishikumar Vadivelu said the prayer gathering was organised within two days amid concerns over the lack of communication from affected areas.

“Many Malaysians are still missing and families are hoping their loved ones will return. We are in a situation where there is no communication at all.”

He said the prayers drew strong support despite being held on a working day, with people from Penang and Kedah also joining remotely.

Rishikumar urged Malaysians to also pray for Nepalese families that had lost their homes and basic necessities. Sentosa assemblyman Dr Gunarajah R. George said the gathering reflected the solidarity of the Malaysian Hindu community during the difficult period.

Gunarajah also welcomed the government’s efforts, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s approval of a US$1 million contribution towards humanitarian assistance and the deployment of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team to Nepal.

“We remain hopeful that the rescue teams will be able to provide assistance and bring those affected back safely.”

Vanisyaa, 28, who joined the devotees at the temple, expressed hope that the prayers would bring safety to those still missing and comfort to their families.

Also attending was Hindu Lawyers Association president R.V. Lingam, who said lawyers were among those affected by the disaster. “A lawyer I know also went along with the group. We are here to pray for their safety because we still do not know their whereabouts.

Source: aunt-of-missing-malaysian-in-nepal-recounts-final-phone-call

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of Kritik.com.my. As an open platform, we welcome diverse perspectives, but the accuracy and integrity of contributed content remain the responsibility of the individual writer. Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate the information presented.

AI Summary

Analyzing article content...

AI-generated summary of key points

0 Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

Court Politics Donald Trump Martial Law South Korea Selangor International Business Summit 2025 Tariff Strategy Economic Reforms Trade Diversification Supply Chain Resilience Export Promotion US Malaysia Trade Fire Gas Pipeline Water

Grow Your Business With Kritikal News

Reach a wider audience and boost your sales — advertise your product here.