Selvaganesh, whose wife went missing during the devastating floods in Nepal on August 26, has come to terms with the likely loss of his spouse, Shalinny Deavy, a State Courts employee from Singapore. Despite initial hopes that she might have survived the disaster, Selvaganesh acknowledged that she is presumed dead, underscoring the emotional toll the tragedy has taken on him and their family.

Shalinny, 40, was among nine Singaporeans still unaccounted for following the floods and landslides that swept through central Nepal and Tibet, killing more than 1,450 people and leaving over 5,000 missing. She was on a pilgrimage and last spoke to her husband around 9 a.m. on the day of the disaster. During their call, she told Selvaganesh that she was at the Gyirong Port immigration building, preparing to cross into Tibet—a journey that would typically take four to five hours. She never made that call.

A widely shared video shows the immigration building being overwhelmed by surging water and mud as people tried unsuccessfully to escape. Selvaganesh said the last recorded location of Shalinny’s phone was at the immigration post, and authorities later confirmed there was no record of her crossing the border. He said he realized she had been caught in the disaster’s epicenter, extinguishing any remaining hope for her return.

The couple’s seven-year-old daughter has been supported by a school counselor as the family copes with the loss. Selvaganesh shared that although he has broken down frequently, his daughter has displayed notable resilience. He attributes her strength to her mother’s qualities, which give him the resolve to continue moving forward.

On October 9, Selvaganesh held a private final rites ceremony for Shalinny, attended by family, friends, colleagues, and judges from the State Courts. He emphasized the importance of providing proper rituals for her soul after accepting the evidence of her passing. Shalinny was known for her community involvement, including volunteering with grassroots organizations in Punggol, participating in the Hair for Hope campaign for childhood cancer, and donating regularly toward food and education initiatives in India.

During the ceremony, the family displayed a picture of Shalinny created using artificial intelligence, based on her recent photographs. Selvaganesh initially doubted the technology but found the resulting image to be an accurate and moving representation.

Despite performing the final rites, Selvaganesh faces ongoing practical challenges. Because Shalinny has not been legally declared dead, he continues to be responsible for paying her insurance premiums and their shared home loan. Nepalese law previously required a missing person to be absent for 12 years before a death declaration could be made. However, on the same day as the rites, Nepal’s President announced a reduction of this waiting period to approximately six weeks for victims of disasters, potentially allowing for death certificates to be issued sooner.

Selvaganesh expressed relief at the legal change and hopes to receive formal confirmation soon, enabling him to resolve outstanding matters and find closure.