Dozens of US and Canadian citizens missing after flash flooding in Nepal

Dozens of US and Canadian citizens are among those missing after flash floods and mudslides struck along the Nepal-Tibet border. The disaster has left nearly 2,000 people missing, including foreign nationals from the US, Australia, Canada, India, and the UK. It has been just one day since the floods hit, but it feels like an eternity for the families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.

The Ahuja sisters, Shreya and Ashna, have been unable to find any concrete information about their parents, Deepak and Madhu Ahuja, both US citizens from Texas. They had traveled to Mount Kailash for a group pilgrimage when the disaster occurred. The sisters have reached out to the State Department and US embassies in Delhi, Nepal, and China, but have received no definitive answers.

Similar anxieties have gripped the families of Ramesh and Neelam Sharma, two US citizens who were also on their way to Mount Kailash for the first time since retiring. Radhika Sharma, the daughter of the Sharmas, has been in frequent contact with her parents, who were last seen at the border around 8am, just an hour before the flood hit. Despite her constant communication with the US embassies in Beijing and Kathmandu, Radhika remains hopeful and connected with other Americans in a similar situation for support.

The disaster has been attributed to a collapsed glacier, which scientists say is likely to have triggered the flooding. The flood has devastated entire communities, with roads and bridges worth more than $98 million damaged. Nepal's President has called for an emergency meeting to address the crisis.

The US and Canadian governments are working closely with Nepalese authorities and local tour agencies to assist affected Americans and Canadians. However, the situation remains extremely challenging, and the number of missing individuals from these countries may fluctuate as new information becomes available.