Almost a week has passed since Gireesh Raina, a resident of Guelph, disappeared during a trek from Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal. Tragically, the region was hit by devastating flash floods that claimed over 1,100 lives and left numerous individuals missing, including Raina and 11 other Canadians who were part of the same pilgrimage organized by the Isha Foundation in North America.
Raina’s wife, Rama Raina, believes her husband may still be stranded on the Chinese side of the border, as communication with him was lost after he reached a checkpoint. She is pleading with rescue teams to search for survivors in that area and is urging both the Chinese and Canadian governments to provide more support and information on ongoing rescue efforts.
Global Affairs Canada has reported about 30 missing Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Nepal and Tibet. Efforts are underway to establish contact with them and ensure their safety, with consular officials being deployed to Kathmandu for support and coordination with local authorities and partners.
In the aftermath of the disaster, individuals like Ganesh Adhikari from Cambridge and Prakash Gurung from Kitchener are sending aid and donations to support those affected. Adhikari, with connections to around 40 families in the affected area, emphasized the urgent need for assistance, while Gurung, deeply impacted by the devastation in his homeland, expressed his heartfelt concern for the victims.
Charitable organizations like the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) are actively engaging in disaster relief efforts in Nepal, providing essential supplies and support to survivors in collaboration with local partners to alleviate the immediate challenges faced by the affected communities. Director Durga Sunchiuri of MCC Nepal described the widespread destruction and the urgent need for basic necessities and support for the affected families.