Ten individuals from Toronto who were part of a group trekking in Nepal are currently missing following a devastating flash flood in the region. The information was provided by a representative from the organizing group, the Isha Foundation in North America. Leslie Crespi, acting as a community liaison for the foundation, disclosed the situation to CBC News Network, stating that the 10 missing individuals are among a total of 80 foundation members who have yet to be located.
Out of the 12 Canadians participating in the trek, 10 were among the missing group, as confirmed by Crespi. She mentioned the lack of communication with the affected individuals since their last contact when the group arrived at a Chinese immigration center in Gyirong County, Tibet, just before the flash flood occurred.
The trek coordinator reached out to the Isha Foundation minutes before the flooding hit the area, and there has been no communication since. The group, consisting of members from 19 countries, was returning from the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage, a revered journey to Mount Kailash in Tibet significant to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon followers.
Families of the missing individuals are grappling with the shocking news, according to Crespi, who expressed the profound impact the situation has had on the foundation community. Meanwhile, Nepali community leaders in Mississauga convened for an emergency meeting to discuss strategies for locating their missing loved ones and are seeking assistance from the Canadian government in the rescue efforts.
Global Affairs Canada provided an update acknowledging approximately 30 missing Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Nepal and Tibet. The department is actively working to establish contact with them and ensure their safety, deploying consular officials to facilitate the process. Furthermore, GlobalMedic, a disaster relief organization based in Etobicoke, has offered support by providing water purification units, emergency kits, and drones to aid those affected by the disaster in Nepal.
