The brother of a Canadian man, Dhaval Shah, who is among those missing following devastating flash floods in the region along the Nepal-Tibet border, expressed the family's anxiety as they await information. Dhaval and his wife, Megha Shah, from Port Moody, British Columbia, were on a spiritual journey in Nepal when the floods struck. Kheval Shah, Dhaval's brother, spoke from his home in Mumbai, India, emphasizing the desperation of their family to learn if the couple has been rescued or located.
"Everybody is on edge to get some news, if they’re rescued or found or something. Something which will make the family understand what happened to them," Kheval Shah said in an interview on Saturday. He conveyed hope for a miraculous outcome, wishing for their safe return.
The situation remains dire as Nepali authorities updated the death toll on Saturday, reporting a combined toll of 676 dead and nearly 3,000 people missing in the aftermath of the floods. The Chinese government has confirmed seven fatalities and reported that more than 550 individuals are unaccounted for. In Nepal, the disaster agency indicated that the death toll had risen to 669 with 2,426 individuals still reported missing.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced on Saturday that one of the 32 Canadians and permanent residents reported missing in the area has been found safe. She noted that telecommunications in the affected areas of Nepal are gradually being restored and mentioned that Chinese authorities are now assessing the risk of secondary flooding as "controllable." Minister Anand advised Canadians in the region to exercise caution and adhere to local authorities' guidelines as well as travel advisories issued by Global Affairs Canada.
Reports from the Nepal Tourism Board indicated that as of Friday, 121 foreign nationals have been rescued. Many individuals who are currently missing were believed to have been on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a site of great significance for Hindus, Buddhists, and other religious practitioners. The floods have also displaced hundreds of others across the broader Himalayan region.
Kheval Shah recounted that he last heard from his brother on Monday, while a cousin had communicated with Dhaval and Megha on Tuesday. He speculated that they were waiting for immigration offices to reopen in order to cross from Nepal into Tibet when the flash floods occurred. His call to action for the Canadian government was directed towards intensifying efforts in obtaining information from Nepal regarding the missing Canadians.
"I know they’re doing something, but I feel that they must really push to find where they are and to get some information," Kheval Shah emphasized during the interview.
In response to the calamity, the Canadian government has pledged $5 million in urgent humanitarian aid to support Nepal, directing funds towards organizations such as the Red Cross to facilitate assistance on the ground. As of Saturday, reports indicate that more than 3,700 individuals have been rescued in Nepal, providing a glimmer of hope amid the continuing crisis.
