Flood Victims Face Legal Hurdles in Obtaining Death Certificates
Summary
Flood survivors in Rasuwa and Nuwakot are struggling to obtain death certificates for missing relatives, leaving them unable to claim pensions, widow allowances, insurance, or property rights. Under current law, missing persons can only be declared dead after years or through a court order, creating legal hurdles for families already performing final rites.
Key Points
- Families in Rasuwa and Nuwakot say they cannot get death certificates for relatives who went missing in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli floods, even after performing final rites.
- Without a death certificate, survivors are blocked from pensions, widow allowances, insurance claims, bank accounts, inheritance, and property transfers.
- Current law says missing persons are presumed dead only after 12 years, or three years in special disaster cases, unless a court issues a judicial declaration of death.
- Local officials say municipalities cannot issue death certificates for missing persons and are waiting for a government decision.
