Days following a devastating flash flood in the Timure region of Nepal, relatives of two Metro Vancouver couples are anxiously seeking information about their missing family members. Among the thousands unaccounted for after the Aug. 26 catastrophe are Dhaval and Megha Shah from Port Moody and Sumit and Shubakshi Rawla from Coquitlam. The tragic incident has claimed the lives of at least 676 individuals.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand reported that one of the 32 Canadians initially reported missing in Nepal has been found safe, although their identity remains undisclosed. Vikram Khosla shared that his cousin Shubakshi, who was in Nepal for a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet to commemorate her 50th birthday, was nearly set to depart when communication ceased just prior to the flood.
Expressing hope that the missing couples are stranded but safe, Khosla emphasized the urgency of locating them. The Rawlas, who are Singaporean nationals residing in Canada for about four years, have two daughters. Dhaval’s brother Kheval Shah disclosed that the couple was staying at Hotel Kailash near the border when contact was last made during breakfast, mere minutes before the calamity struck.
Shah and Khosla have voiced concerns over the lack of updates from Nepalese authorities regarding search efforts. Khosla mentioned that Shubakshi’s siblings have traveled to Kathmandu to join the search operation in the affected area. They advocate for a centralized information hub to provide real-time updates to families of the missing individuals.
The Canadian government has pledged $5 million in humanitarian aid to assist Nepal, with a focus on organizations like the Red Cross delivering aid on the ground. Despite over 3,700 people being rescued so far, the search continues for the 2,426 individuals still missing from the disaster.
