The Nepal Electricity Authority has announced an emergency relief package for families of employees and workers who went missing in the devastating floods along the Bhotekoshi River.

The floods damaged 13 hydropower projects and left scores of employees and workers missing. At least 47 Nepal Electricity Authority employees and workers remain unaccounted for.

A meeting of the authority’s board, chaired by Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha on Wednesday evening, decided to provide immediate assistance to the families of the missing to support search efforts, perform religious and social rites according to their traditions, and meet their living expenses, said board member Anshukiran Shahi.

Under the first part of the package, the authority will provide Rs50,000 to the next of kin of each missing permanent employee, daily-wage worker and contract worker.

Under the second measure, the next of kin of missing permanent employees will receive 50 percent of the starting salary for the employee’s grade as a subsistence allowance.

The allowance will be paid from Bhadra, the Nepali month that began in mid-August, for up to six months, or until the authority makes a separate decision on compensation or other financial support for the families.

At the meeting, Shrestha said the families of the missing employees and workers were the government’s responsibility.

“We are one family. This money cannot heal such a deep wound, but I hope it provides some relief,” he said.