- More than 1,100 people have died due to a flash flood triggered by a glacier collapse in the Himalayan border region between Nepal and China on Aug. 26, with thousands still missing.
- Ishan Patel, a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen, was in Nepal with his wife, Akanksha Patel, and family members when the flood occurred, and his phone pinged near Hotel Kailash after breakfast last Wednesday.
- One Canadian missing in the flooding has been found safe, reducing the number of missing Canadians and permanent residents to 29.
- The Canadian government has sent a 10-person team to Nepal and pledged $5 million in humanitarian aid, along with 18,000 emergency items from Canadian Red Cross stockpiles.
- The scale of the disaster has hampered rescue efforts, with landslides and destroyed roads cutting off remote areas, complicating the search for the missing.
- In Kathmandu, police have buried dozens of unidentified bodies in trenches due to the overwhelming number of casualties.
- Family members of the missing, including Neeral Patel, have been searching online and in hospitals for answers, as roads to the flood-hit area remain closed.
Over 1,100 people have died in the catastrophic floods that struck Nepal on August 26, with more than 3,900 individuals still unaccounted for following a glacier collapse in the Himalayan region.
Among the missing are 30 Canadians and permanent residents, as confirmed by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand. The situation remains dire, with families like that of Ishan Patel, a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen, anxiously awaiting news. Neeral Patel, Ishan's cousin, expressed the family's distress, stating, “We want to give a lot of hope. But with each passing day, it’s just getting chipped away.”
Rescue efforts are severely hindered by landslides and destroyed roads, complicating access to remote areas. “The scale of the disaster is hampering rescue efforts,” noted officials.7
As of now, one Canadian has been found safe, but the search continues for the remaining 29. The Canadian government has deployed a team of 10 officials to assist in locating the missing and has pledged $5 million in humanitarian aid, along with sending over 18,000 emergency items from the Canadian Red Cross.456
Rescuers are also racing to reach hundreds of hydropower workers trapped in tunnels, utilizing advanced technologies such as drones and helicopters to aid in the search.
“We will leave no stone unturned to help Canadians in need,” Anand assured, as families continue to scour the internet and local hospitals for any signs of their loved ones.
“The flood, triggered by a glacier collapse on Aug. 26, killed at least 1,118 people and left more than 3,900 missing. Ottawa has pledged $5 million in aid and sent a 10-person team, while families like Neeral Patel's scour the internet and hospitals for loved ones.”
Global News
CP24
