10 Toronto residents on a trek in Nepal unaccounted for after deadly flash floods: non-profit group
Ten Toronto residents on a trek in Nepal are unaccounted for after deadly flash flooding in the country this week, according to a representative of the group that organized the trip.
No communication group after area hard hit by wall of water Wednesday, liaison says
CBC News
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Ten Toronto residents on a trek in Nepal are unaccounted for after deadly flash flooding in the country this week, according to a representative of the group that organized the trip.
Leslie Crespi, a U.S.-based community liaison for the Isha Foundation in North America, a non-profit spirituality group, told CBC News Network on Thursday that the 10 are among 80 members of the foundation still missing.
The 10 were among 12 Canadians on the trek, Crespi said.
"At this particular time, we haven't had any communication with the 80 people that were involved," Crespi said in an interview from McMinnville, Tennessee.
The co-ordinator of the trek contacted the Isha Foundation at 9:07 a.m. on Wednesday, after the group arrived at an Chinese immigration centre in Gyirong County, Tibet. The flash flooding hit that particular area at 9:14 a.m., she said.
"Since that time, we haven't had any communication with those people who are involved. We've been in close contact with the embassies, with officials, with everybody that we can to be plugged into what's happening and to get continuous updates," she said.
The group, which includes people from 19 countries, was returning from the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet. The journey has significance to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bon followers.
Crespi said families of the group members are in shock.
"It's devastating news; it's very, very hard to believe. This was incredibly unexpected and the magnitude of this flood is just something you can't get your mind around," she said.
"These people are like family to us.… Some people have been with us for over 20 years, so it has taken a devastating effect on all of us here."
'Everybody is in panic mode'
Nepali community leaders gathered for an emergency meeting in Mississauga on Thursday to talk about tracking down missing loved ones.
The leaders said the community will ask the Canadian government will help rescue the people unaccounted for.
WATCH | 10 Toronto residents unaccounted for in Nepal:
80 members missing from Isha Foundation
8 hours ago|
Duration 5:53
Eighty members of the Isha Foundation are still missing after the Nepal flash flood. Leslie Crespi, community liaison for the foundation in North America, speaks with CBC News Network.Punya Marahatta, senior vice-president of Non-Resident Nepalese Association in Toronto, said seeing videos on social media is adding to the stress.
"Everybody is in panic mode," he said.
The community leaders said the first step is for families with missing loved ones to register their names with the federal government.
Global Affairs Canada aware of missing Canadians
Global Affairs Canada said in a media update on Thursday it was aware of about 30 missing Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Nepal and Tibet.
"Given the extremely difficult circumstances on the ground, this number will fluctuate as new information comes in," Global Affairs Canada said.
"Our consular officials are working urgently to establish contact with them and confirm their safety. They are also reaching out to travel agencies, local authorities and likeminded countries to gather additional information."
Global Affairs Canada said it is deploying five consular officials to Kathmandu to support Canadians and co-ordinate with local officials and partners and will provide further resources as needed.
Anita Anand, minister of foreign affairs, said Canadian officials are working urgently to get in touch with missing Canadians and confirm they are safe.
GlobalMedic, a disaster relief charity based in Etobicoke, said it has offered to deploy its point of source water purification units, family emergency kits and drones to Nepal to help people affected by the disaster.
Point of source water purification units can be installed in feeding centres and hospitals to provide access to clean drinking water, while a family emergency kit contains a point of use water purification kit, hygiene items and a portable solar light.
GlobalMedic said it can help in mapping out the extent of the damage and provide search and rescue support. The teams collect data that provide information to emergency responders so better aid decisions can be made.
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