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Since Sunday afternoon, search operations have been underway to locate 14 women who went missing in Shuklaphanta National Park. Teams from all three security agencies have been jointly deployed for this effort.
To enhance the effectiveness of the search, drones have also been deployed in the operation.
Chief District Officer Madan Koirala stated via telephone, “Since receiving information at 9 pm last night, the search has been ongoing. Teams from the three security bodies have been deployed through five to six checkpoints.”
He added that alongside the integrated security forces, local residents are also involved in the search efforts. “The area is extensive. We are employing drones in the search operation.”
Preliminary inquiries suggest the women went into the forest to collect vegetables. Nine of them belong to the same family.
The Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and local residents are fully engaged in the search on foot and with vehicles. According to local representatives and relatives of the missing women, they did not carry mobile phones.
A relative of one of the women noted that weather conditions were poor when they entered the park. The rain that fell on Sunday night may have damaged the paths.
A spokesperson for the Kanchanpur District Police Office stated that search teams from the relatives of the missing women, security forces, and police are conducting coordinated searches in different areas.
What Nepal Police Say
Tek Bahadur Rawat, spokesperson for the District Police Office, said the women had not returned from the border area by 9 pm Sunday evening, which prompted the request for police assistance.
“Since evening, a Nepali Army team has been inside the park, and our team is also searching. I am there as well. The team is conducting foot patrols, and vehicles are being used on rough trails. Locals are involved, but they have not been found yet.”
He reported that three women from Beldandi village who had gone missing were found on Sunday itself.
“It rained during the night. The previous afternoon was cloudy with no sunshine, which may have made navigation difficult.”
He added that different teams have been deployed and military personnel are also searching around their posts.
“Our units in Shuklaphanta are actively searching. They may have followed the trail to the banks of the Mahakali River, where some units are also operating. The search continues from various army posts.”
Police mentioned that the women possibly entered the park without permission and might have done so secretly. The security teams involved in the search are including such individuals for assistance in the efforts.
The missing women are residents of Ward No. 19, Bhimdatt Municipality, Kanchanpur district.
Who Are the Missing Women?
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Local Ward Chairperson Jaguram Chaudhary said, “They went out yesterday at 11 am to gather ‘purpura’, a vegetable found beyond the mushrooms. Locals call it foodki. They were searched for all night but were not found. Three teams are currently inside, but no updates yet.”
They belong to the Chaudhary and Dalit communities. He added, “We don’t know if they went before; possibly, they lost their way.”
He is stationed at the Baghfata Malumela post and is personally involved in the search alongside security personnel. The Nepali Army from Majgaon and municipal police teams from Bhimdatt Municipality have also been deployed.
Local Ravindra Chaudhary stated that his sister-in-law and niece are missing and that he has joined the search efforts.
“There are nine members from our family. They used to go there before regularly. They didn’t take phones because there is no coverage inside the forest.”
He expressed confidence that after having breakfast, his relatives entered the park and may be in a safe place.
“They are all involved in farming. Other family members have been searching since 5 am but have not yet made contact.”
