Days following a devastating flash flood in the Timure region of Nepal, relatives of two Metro Vancouver couples are anxiously seeking news about their missing loved ones. Dhaval and Megha Shah from Port Moody, along with Sumit and Shubakshi Rawla from Coquitlam, are among the numerous individuals unaccounted for since the flood on August 26, which tragically claimed the lives of at least 676 people.
An update from Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand on Saturday revealed that one of the 32 missing Canadians in Nepal has been found safe, although the individual has not been identified. Vikram Khosla mentioned that his cousin Shubakshi was in the area preparing for a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet as a special 50th birthday celebration.
Khosla expressed hope that his relatives are safe but mentioned the lack of communication since the flood struck. The couple, originally from Singapore and residing in Canada for four years, have two daughters. Dhaval’s brother Kheval Shah, speaking from Mumbai, recounted that the couple was staying at Hotel Kailash near the border and was last heard from while having breakfast shortly before the flood hit.
The desperate search for information continues, with family members eager for updates on the whereabouts of their missing loved ones. Canada has pledged $5 million in urgent aid for Nepal, specifically to assist organizations like the Red Cross in providing support to those affected. Despite the ongoing rescue efforts that have saved over 3,700 individuals, there are still 2,426 people missing, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Shah and Khosla are calling on the Canadian government to press Nepalese authorities for more detailed information regarding the search and rescue operations. Khosla highlighted the frustration over the lack of updates and mentioned that Shubakshi’s siblings have traveled to Kathmandu in an attempt to reach the affected area for further investigations. They are advocating for a centralized platform to provide real-time updates to the families of the missing individuals.