How a family trip from Sindhuli became a national headline

A family trip from Sindhuli turned into a national concern when 16 members of the Hayu family went missing for several days, triggering a widespread search and investigation.

Timeline of events

Thursday, July 24
The Hayu family from Ward No. 6, Golanjor Rural Municipality in Sindhuli, including Urmila Hayu, her six sons, six daughters, one daughter-in-law, one granddaughter, and one son-in-law, withdrew their social security allowances from the local bank branch. They held a feast that evening but disappeared soon after, leaving their home empty.

Friday to Saturday, July 25-26
Neighbors in Sindhuli noticed no activity at the family’s remote home. When officials checked the house, they found it deserted, with household items scattered, livestock left unattended, a dog crying, and the kitchen shed burned.

Sunday to Monday, July 28-29
Authorities traced the family’s last known phone signals to a nearby district. Police teams from Sindhuli and the neighboring district launched a coordinated search. However, all tracked phones were switched off, making it difficult to locate them.

One family member, Sujata Hayu, was found to be living separately in Kathmandu and was not missing as initially thought.

Monday evening
The remaining 16 family members were found safe in Pokhara. They had checked into a local hotel and were later staying with locals. Police suggested the family had traveled from Sindhuli to Pokhara in search of work and planned to settle there.

What happened?

Officials believe the family’s sudden departure from Sindhuli may have been voluntary, possibly due to financial difficulties. The family had large debts and had recently withdrawn social security payments.

There was no evidence of any crime or struggle at their home in Sindhuli. However, the remote location of their house and poor connectivity delayed reports about their disappearance.

Why did this case get national attention?

The large number of missing family members from Sindhuli and their belonging to the endangered Hayu community attracted widespread media coverage. The incident highlighted challenges in tracking and supporting remote communities in Sindhuli, including poor communication infrastructure and gaps in social welfare monitoring.

Current situation

All missing family members from Sindhuli have been located and are currently in police custody for questioning. Authorities continue investigating the circumstances behind their sudden move and remain in coordination with local officials in Sindhuli and Pokhara.