Ten Toronto residents who were part of a group trekking in Nepal are currently missing following a tragic flash flood incident. Leslie Crespi, a representative of the Isha Foundation in North America, disclosed that out of the 80 foundation members missing, 10 are Canadians, including 12 from Toronto.
Crespi expressed concern over the lack of communication with the group since the flash flooding that occurred as they reached a Chinese immigration center in Tibet. The group, comprising individuals from 19 different countries, was returning from the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a sacred journey for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon followers.
As families of the missing members grapple with shock and disbelief, Punya Marahatta, a senior official of the Non-Resident Nepalese Association in Toronto, highlighted the distress caused by social media videos, noting that the community is in a state of panic.
Global Affairs Canada has confirmed that approximately 30 Canadian citizens and permanent residents are unaccounted for in Nepal and Tibet. The department emphasized the challenging conditions on the ground and assured that consular officials are actively working to establish contact with the missing individuals and ensure their safety. Additionally, Global Affairs Canada is dispatching consular staff to Kathmandu to provide support and coordinate efforts with local authorities and partners.
Amid the crisis, GlobalMedic, a disaster relief organization based in Etobicoke, has offered assistance by proposing the deployment of water purification units, emergency kits, and drones to aid those affected by the disaster in Nepal. These resources are crucial for providing clean drinking water, hygiene items, and mapping out the extent of the damage to facilitate search and rescue operations.
