Days following a catastrophic deluge in the Timure area of Nepal, relatives of two absent couples from Metro Vancouver are anxiously seeking updates on their whereabouts. Dhaval and Megha Shah from Port Moody, along with Sumit and Shubakshi Rawla from Coquitlam, are part of a large number of individuals missing since the flash flood on August 26, which tragically claimed the lives of at least 676 people.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand reported on Saturday that one of the 32 unaccounted Canadians in Nepal has been located but remains unidentified. Vikram Khosla mentioned that his cousin Shubakshi was on a trek to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet for her 50th birthday gift, just on the brink of departure when they were in touch with a family member an hour before the disaster struck.
The couple, who are citizens of Singapore and moved to Canada about four years ago, have two daughters. Dhaval’s brother, Kheval Shah, disclosed that his brother and sister-in-law were lodging at Hotel Kailash near the border on the fateful morning. Communication with them was lost shortly after breakfast, merely 15 minutes before the calamity hit.
Expressing hope that they are stranded but safe, Khosla emphasized the importance of locating them for closure. The couple has a 24-year-old daughter. Meanwhile, Canada has pledged $5 million in emergency humanitarian aid to assist Nepal, earmarked for organizations like the Red Cross to provide on-ground support.
Shah expressed his desire for the Canadian government to press Nepal for more information regarding the ongoing search efforts for the missing. Khosla also voiced frustration over the lack of updates and mentioned that Shubakshi’s siblings are en route to Kathmandu to delve into the situation firsthand.
Highlighting the necessity for a centralized information source for families of the missing, Khosla stressed the importance of real-time updates. As of Saturday afternoon, over 3,700 individuals had been rescued, while 2,426 people remained unaccounted for in the aftermath of the disaster.