Kathmandu— Talka Sada, a father in his 50s from the Madhesi community of Nepal's Terai region, is on an exhausting search for his missing 19-year-old son, Vinod. The devastating flash floods that hit northern Nepal on August 26 have left Vinod and four other young men unaccounted for since they were last seen working at a hydropower plant in the Rasuwa district. Sada has borrowed money to trek across flood-affected areas, hoping against hope to find his son.

Father's Journey

Dressed in faded clothes and carrying a small backpack with less than $13, Sada trekked from the Terai region to Kathmandu. He then traveled further north towards Nuwakot, near where Vinod was believed to be working at the hydropower plant. Along his journey, he faced numerous challenges including long walks through broken roads and limited resources for food and shelter.

Search Efforts

Sada visited hospitals in Kathmandu, hoping to find any sign of Vinod among survivors or the deceased. He also tried accessing mortuaries and army camps but claims he was repeatedly turned away. Sada believes this is due to ethnic and caste discrimination against Madhesis like himself.

Emotional Struggle

Sada's emotional state oscillates between hope and despair. He hopes his son, known for being agile as a porter, might have survived the floods but admits he has no real hope left. His wife is also suffering at home, urging him to bring their son back.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

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Originally published on abcnews.com.np.