Thiruvananthapuram: Family of Kollam native Sunanda Manirajan, 63, who has been missing since flash floods hit Nepal’s Rasuwagadhi region, have submitted DNA samples to UK authorities as part of efforts to identify victims of the disaster. Sunanda, who has been living in the UK for around four decades, was travelling with the Alpine Echo Trek group when she went missing.Sunanda’s daughters, Meera and Sumi, who are also based in the UK, provided their samples after being contacted by the authorities. The samples will be sent to Nepal for further examination, Sunanda’s husband Manirajan said.“UK authorities contacted our children and asked them to provide DNA samples. They told us that the samples would be sent to Nepal for further investigation and identification. We have been informed that the entire process may take around two weeks,” Rajan said.The samples are expected to be used for DNA matching with unidentified bodies recovered from the flood-hit areas. The family is hoping the process will provide some clarity on Sunanda’s whereabouts.Manirajan said the family has also sought the intervention of Kollam MP N K Premachandran and Union home minister Amit Shah to step up efforts to trace Sunanda. “We are hoping for a positive result and are still hopeful that Sunanda will be found,” he said.A 20-member rescue team from UK has also reached Nepal as part of efforts to trace those reported missing in the disaster.According to her family, Sunanda was at the Nepal immigration and customs office for visa stamping when the disaster struck. The family last established contact with her through WhatsApp on Aug 26, before communication was lost. Her name has since been included in the list of missing persons maintained by Nepalese authorities.Manirajan, a retired UK govt official, lives in Paravur. The family has been pursuing all possible avenues to trace Sunanda, with the latest DNA procedure raising hopes that her whereabouts could finally be established.
