Families of 35 Australians missing in Nepal are urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to intervene, as they continue to seek answers and financial and visa support four weeks after devastating floods struck the region.
Sriram Parameswaran, whose wife Sruthi Chandrasekaran is among those missing, said relatives wanted to meet the Prime Minister and bring together the government departments dealing with their situation.
“We definitely want to meet the prime minister, who can listen to us, who will be able to understand what our grief is … he is the only person here who can now bring all departments together to help us,” he said on Wednesday.
Families said they had been told Centrelink would contact them to discuss available options, but claimed no contact had yet taken place.
Mr Parameswaran said he was struggling to answer questions from his two young sons, who continued to hope their mother would return.
“I am not able to answer my boys’ questions. They still don’t know. They are still hoping that mum is going to come back, right? So we need an answer,” he said.
He also raised visa concerns involving his parents, who travelled from India to help care for the children. Their visas are due to expire in March, adding to the family’s uncertainty while Mrs Chandrasekaran remains missing.
“When my wife is not there, the only person he trusts is my mum,” Mr Parameswaran said of his two-year-old son’s relationship with his grandmother.
Families of Australians missing in Nepal share information
Relatives of several missing Australians, speaking in Sydney, described forming a support network since the disaster. A WhatsApp group allows families to share information as soon as it becomes available.
“It’s like we’ve become a very big family all together, but we all need an answer. That’s what we are praying for, and we are waiting for,” Mr Parameswaran said.
Vaishnavi Kowshikan said time appeared to have stood still for families affected by the floods. Her sister, Shylaja Muralitharan, is missing alongside her husband and their two sons.
Ms Kowshikan said she had sought information from the Australian Government about her nephews, Ashwin, 14, and Aarush, 11, including whether they could have been separated from their parents and taken to a children’s home or rescue camp.
She said the government had told her no foreign nationals had been found in either location, but remained concerned the boys might be unable to identify themselves after the shock they had experienced.
“Ashwin and Aarush are very young … considering the shock they may have gone through, we’re so concerned and worried. Can they speak? Can they identify themselves?” she said.
“They are our family, but it’s not an impact on just my family of four. We’re all in this together. We’re all experiencing the same thing, so we’re really reaching out to the Australian government. That’s our final hope and final plea.”
