Nepal: Search for foreign nationals continue in Nepal after disaster.

Shotlist Kathmandu, Nepal - Sept 4, 2026 1. Various of people lining up at DNA collection centers, sign reading "Blood Sample Collection" 2. Various of Vishal Vignesh from United States in search for missing relatives 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Vishal Vignesh, relative of missing victims (starting with shot 2): "It is a catastrophic situation unfortunately. There are certain limitations that Nepal army has put on internationals and their ability to access the points. So we are not able to go to Raswagarhi at this point, which is my hope to at least go to some of the camps and try to see if we can get some semblance of their existence." 4. Various of people gathering at DNA collection centers, sign reading "Only for Foreigners", collection center 5. Photos of missing people on wall 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Smiita Bagrecha, relative of missing victim (starting with shot 4): "For her, her mama is the only one person in the world whom she loves the most and for her mama, [it's vice versa.] That's why I think the connection is going to bring them back together. I am very sure Swati has that in her mind as Anusha is always in her mind." 7. Various of relatives of missing victims, photos on wall Storyline For families still waiting for word on their loved ones who are missing after the devastating August 26 mudslide and floods in Nepal, every passing day brings more anxiety, even as authorities reaffirm that locating foreign nationals remains the government's top priority. The disaster, caused by an ice-rock avalanche in Nepal, hit multiple locations along the China-Nepal border. The Nepal Police said on Saturday that the death toll from the deadly mudslide in Nepal has crossed the 1,300 mark. Among the roughly 4,900 people still missing are nearly 600 foreign nationals from more than 30 countries. Many travelers went missing along the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route in the wake of the disaster. Some 300 people have been rescued, and search efforts continue for the missing. On Thursday, Nepal's foreign minister briefed the diplomatic community in Kathmandu, assuring them that the safety and well-being of foreign nationals remain the government's top priority. A dedicated cell has been established to coordinate with the families of missing foreign nationals and keep them informed as search and identification efforts continue. Relatives are now lining up at DNA collection centers in Kathmandu, which will use the samples to identify those who lost their lives in the disaster. A relative of missing victims, Vishal Vignesh, has traveled from the United States to search for his parents and three other family members, who were a part of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. "It is a catastrophic situation unfortunately. There are certain limitations that Nepal army has put on internationals and their ability to access the points. So we are not able to go to Raswagarhi at this point, which is my hope to at least go to some of the camps and try to see if we can get some semblance of their existence," said Vignesh. Swati Bagrecha's family, like many others, has not given up hope. Her 13-year-old daughter Anusha is still waiting for her mother to return from what was meant to be her dream trip along the pilgrimage route. "For her, her mama is the only one person in the world whom she loves the most, and for her mama, [it's vice versa.] That's why I think the connection is going to bring them back together. I am very sure Swati has that in her mind, as Anusha is always in her mind," said Smiita Bagrecha, another missing victim's relative. The wall of missing at one of Kathmandu's main hospitals has become a desperate last resort for families searching for their loved ones. Identifying the dead is proving difficult, as many of the bodies have been severely damaged or are in an advanced state of decomposition. With morgues overwhelmed by the number of victims, some bodies have already been temporarily buried. Authorities, however, are preserving DNA samples and other forensic records, allowing the remains to be identified at a later stage. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]