Hundreds of people have died in the massive glacial flood on the Nepal-Tibet border and over 2,500 more are missing.
Some of the over 8,000 Nepalis in Massachusetts are reeling, waiting to hear from friends and family after Wednesday’s floods in the country’s Himalayan region.
Sushma Adhikari lives in the Boston area and says her family is safe. Still, she’s been posting photos on social media of nine friends that remain missing.
“There are so many families here in Boston that I personally know. They’re still waiting to hear from their family from back home. They’re still missing. They’re not in contact,” said Adhikari. “It’s been like more than 48 hours now. So they’re really hoping that they get good news about it.”
She is part of the Greater Boston Nepali Community, an organization that is planning a candlelight vigil in Everett on Saturday, August 29.
The vigil will be held at the gazebo at River Green Park at 6pm. The organization is also raising funds for the government of Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.
The flood in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region was an unusual one, caused by melting glaciers amid human-caused global warming. The area holds the largest amount of ice and snow outside of the Arctic Circle and Antarctica, according to the World Economic Forum.
“This was not simply a regular flood from heavy rain. It was a massive section of glacier and rock that collapsed in the Himalayan region. And honestly, I don’t think no one has ever heard or seen this, like, ever in history before,” said Adhikari.
“It’s heartbreaking to see all of this. We’re trying to help whatever way we can,” said Rabina Lockett, co-owner of Himalayan Kitchen, a Nepalese restaurant in Somerville. Her own family is safe, but she has friends who are still missing.
“We have a link and QR code that takes people to the Prime Minister’s disaster relief fund so people can contribute whatever they can,” she said. “We’re trying to bring community awareness to help the people back home.”
Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson and his staff stopped by the restaurant Friday to show his support.
“We as a community are devastated by the disaster that has hit Nepal-Tibet,” he wrote on Instagram.
Lockett recounted an elderly couple with disabilities that called and donated over the phone this morning after being unable to go to the restaurant in person.
“That is heart-touching for me,” she said.
