The owner of Everest Cuisine in Ottawa, Ramesh Baniya, shared the anxiety gripping his staff as they await news about a missing loved one following the recent devastating flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border. Baniya, deeply affected by the situation, revealed that a close friend’s family is frantically searching for him. He expressed the collective anguish felt by Nepalese Canadians, describing the current state as deeply sorrowful and tear-inducing.
Operating a restaurant serving Indo-Nepalese cuisine, Everest Cuisine serves as a hub for locals with connections to Nepal. Baniya highlighted that community members in Ottawa are grappling with the uncertainty of missing relatives and friends, reflecting the widespread impact of the tragedy.
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the death toll has climbed to 538, with 977 individuals still missing and 3,742 people successfully rescued. Baniya recounted spending hours witnessing harrowing footage of the disaster’s aftermath, which left him disturbed and sleepless, witnessing entire villages and numerous homes being swept away by the floods.
In response to the crisis, Baniya and his team have already contributed $1,000 to relief efforts and are actively fundraising at the restaurant. They have set up a donation jar and displayed posters urging patrons to make a difference with their contributions. Additionally, they have organized a candlelight vigil at Ottawa city hall, scheduled for Friday evening, to show solidarity and support for those affected by the catastrophic events.
Bishnu Chhetri, from the Nepalese Canadian Association of Ottawa, collaborated in arranging the vigil, emphasizing the significant Nepalese community in Ottawa deeply impacted by the floods. The vigil aims to honor the deceased and missing individuals, offering prayers and support during this challenging time. Both Chhetri and Baniya extended an open invitation to all to participate in the vigil and stand in unity with those affected by the tragedy.