KATHMANDU, Sept 1: At least 43 Australians remain unaccounted for in the Nepal-China border area following the devastating Bhotekoshi River flood in Rasuwa, while their families anxiously await news of their loved ones.
The flood last Wednesday caused extensive damage in and around the Nepal-China border, including at Gyirong Port. Several foreign tourists and pilgrims in the area also went out of contact following the disaster.
Among those unaccounted for is Renee Spry, a mother of two from the Sunshine Coast. Spry, who is in her 50s, had reached Gyirong Port while returning home after completing a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. She arrived in the area about 10 minutes before the flood struck, according to ABC News, Australia.
Renee’s sister, Clair Spry, has appealed on social media for help in locating her sister. “Our beloved sister Renee is still unaccounted for from the China-Nepal border following the devastating event,” she wrote.
Renee’s husband is also trying to travel to Nepal to help with the search.
Also unaccounted for are 39-year-old Melbourne resident Sidharthi Kumari Sahu and her 43-year-old husband, Sandeep Mohapatra. The couple lived in Wantirna South and were travelling with other Australians as part of a pilgrimage group organised by Kailash Journeys.
Anxiety mounts as families search for loved ones missing in Bho...
Their close friend Rubila Rath said she still hoped the couple would be found safe.
“They were beautiful souls, and we want them back,” Rath said. “She was like a sister to me and he was like my brother-in-law. I hope we will see them both again soon.”
Forty-five-year-old Gopi Krishna Naidu Agastya, an IT professional based in Sydney, is also unaccounted for. According to his friend Pavan Kurucheti, Agastya was inside the immigration building at the Gyirong border crossing when the flood struck.
Agastya was part of an Australian group travelling with the Isha Foundation for a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.
According to ABC Australia, most of the 43 Australians unaccounted for had travelled through Nepal towards Tibet for the Mount Kailash pilgrimage. Mount Kailash is considered sacred by followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon.
The Bhotekoshi flood has also affected the Nepali community in Australia. Madhu Panthi of Santa Teresa, southeast of Alice Springs, said four to five Nepali families in Central Australia had been affected by the disaster.
One of Panthi’s close friends is also unaccounted for in Nepal. Panthi said they had been in contact with the person until shortly before the flood, but had received no news since.
“He was alive until two hours before the flood. We have received no message since then,” he said.
Panthi said there was still hope that those unaccounted for would be found alive.
“We have heard many stories of miracles. I am also waiting for a miracle,” he said.
Some members of the Nepali community in Australia are also preparing to support affected families. Some are planning to provide immediate assistance, while others are preparing to raise funds for families affected by the disaster in Nepal.
Meanwhile, Australia has announced an increase in its humanitarian assistance to Nepal to A$8 million.
Australian Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the funding would be used to provide essential supplies, including hygiene kits and solar lights. “People in the region desperately need these kits and solar lights,” he said, adding that the floods had caused extensive damage to electricity and telecommunications infrastructure.
The Australian Defence Force is preparing to deliver additional supplies to Nepal in the coming days.
