Days following a devastating flash flood in the Timure region of Nepal, relatives of two Metro Vancouver couples are frantically seeking updates about their missing family members. Dhaval and Megha Shah from Port Moody, and Sumit and Shubakshi Rawla from Coquitlam, are among the numerous individuals unaccounted for since the catastrophic event on August 26, which claimed the lives of at least 676 people.
An official statement from Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand disclosed that one of the 32 Canadians reported missing has been found safe, although the individual’s identity remains undisclosed. Vikram Khosla revealed that his cousin Shubakshi was part of a trek to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet, a revered site for various spiritual beliefs, as a special 50th birthday celebration.
The couple had been preparing for their journey when they last communicated with family shortly before the flood hit. Despite ongoing search efforts, there has been no contact with the missing group members since the disaster struck. The couple, who are citizens of Singapore and relocated to Canada four years ago, have two daughters.
Speaking from Mumbai, India, Dhaval’s brother Kheval Shah shared that the couple was staying at Hotel Kailash near the border when they were last heard from during breakfast, just before the flood submerged the area. The family is anxiously awaiting any information about their whereabouts, emphasizing the importance of closure. The couple’s eldest daughter is 24 years old.
Canada has pledged $5 million in emergency aid to assist Nepal, with funds allocated to organizations like the Red Cross for delivering aid to affected communities on the ground. Meanwhile, family members of the missing couples express frustration over the lack of updates and call for a more centralized and real-time information hub for families seeking information about their loved ones.
As of the latest reports, over 3,700 individuals have been rescued, but 2,426 people are still missing, underscoring the ongoing urgency of the situation in Nepal.