Nepal slashes timeline for declaring flood victims legally dead

The Nepalese government has enacted emergency legislation shortening the period required to legally declare a missing person dead, reducing it from a decade to six weeks in response to catastrophic flooding that has claimed hundreds of lives across the country.

Under the revised legal framework, families of those missing in the recent floods can now petition courts to have loved ones declared deceased after 45 days, compared to the previous 12-year requirement. The accelerated timeline addresses the urgent need for surviving family members to settle estates, access insurance payouts, and move forward with their lives in the aftermath of the disaster.

The measure reflects the extraordinary circumstances created by the flooding, which has displaced thousands and destroyed homes and infrastructure across multiple regions. Legal experts note that the shortened period, while unprecedented in Nepal's legal system, provides necessary relief during the emergency period while maintaining court oversight of declarations.

The legislation remains in effect as rescue and recovery operations continue. Authorities have indicated that the temporary measure may be extended depending on the evolving humanitarian situation and the number of unaccounted persons still missing.