Relatives ‘really worried, but hopeful’ as they wait anxiously for news in the aftermath of the flash flooding disaster
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The families of an Australian defence force member and two Sydney boys who went missing with their parents in Nepal remain hopeful they will be found safe.
Dozens of Australians are missing after devastating flooding on the Nepal-Tibet border. Nepal’s disaster management authority said on Friday that the total number of people missing had risen sharply to more than 1,900 swelled by 933 workers on hydropower projects on the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers where a wall of water powered down on Wednesday morning. The number of people killed is at least 584.
One Australian woman contacted her family on Friday morning to tell them that she had survived the flood, the first of those reported missing to be confirmed safe.
Among the missing Australians is Karan Bhardwaj, a 40-year-old Brisbane-based member of the Royal Australian air force who was travelling in Nepal with Kailash Journeys.
“Karan is a dad to my beautiful seven-year-old nephew, as well as a brother, uncle and brother in law,” said his family member Jen, who did not want her surname published.
“He is so desperately loved by his family and right now we are desperately praying, hoping and believing that Karan is safe, alive and somehow making his way back to us.”
Shylaja Muralitharan, 42, her husband, Chandrasekaran Muralitharan, 47, and their two sons Ashwin, 14, and Aarush, 11, were taking part in a pilgrimage when the flood hit on Wednesday.
Shylaja’s younger sister, Vaishnavi, said that she had lost contact with the family shortly after breakfast on the morning of the flood.
The family of four planned to head towards an immigration checkpoint on the Tibet-Nepal border soon after, as part of the group of 15 Australians trekking with the Himalayan Glacier Adventures tour.
“Just like everyone else that’s part of that group, we’re really worried, but hopeful,” Vaishnavi said.
“Hopeful that they’re safe and just waiting to be rescued.
“It’s a very difficult time for our whole family … I just want to make people aware that they’re there, and we’re waiting, and we just want them to return.”
