5 days ago
Vadodara NRI Couple Missing After Nepal Flash Floods
Kinnari and Mihir Patel are a married couple from Vadodara who live in New Zealand.
They travelled to Kathmandu, Nepal, and stayed in a hotel for three days.
After leaving the hotel, they planned to visit Kailash Dham before returning to India for Raksha Bandhan.
Their family has not been able to contact them.
A large flash flood hit Nepal and damaged roads, bridges and other buildings.
Kinnari’s brother asked the government to use helicopters and Army personnel to find them.
Indian and Nepalese officials said they are working together.
The floods have killed hundreds of people, and other countries and organizations are also sending help.
Kinnari and Mihir Patel, a Vadodara-origin couple living in New Zealand, are missing after floods in Nepal.
The couple checked out of a Kathmandu hotel after three days and reportedly left for Kailash Dham on August 21.
Kinnari’s brother, Chirag Patel, urged India to deploy helicopters and Army personnel for rescue efforts.
Nepal’s flash floods have killed 469 people, injured 1,545 and left 977 people missing, according to officials.
India, the United States and the World Health Organization have offered support, supplies or assistance to Nepal.
- Who
- Vadodara-origin New Zealand residents Kinnari and Mihir Patel are missing; their family and authorities are seeking information.
- What
- The couple disappeared after leaving a Kathmandu hotel during devastating flash floods in Nepal.
- Where
- They were last known to have stayed in Kathmandu and were reportedly travelling toward Kailash Dham; the floods severely affected Nepal, including Rasuwa district.
- When
- They reportedly set out for Kailash Dham on August 21; the major flash flood struck on August 26, and the casualty figures were reported on Friday.
- Why
- Their family cannot contact them after the floods and is seeking an urgent rescue operation.
Family's Rescue Appeal
Authorities' Response
Scale and speed of rescue
Family's Rescue Appeal
Chirag Patel urged the government to deploy the maximum number of helicopters, send the Army in full force and act as quickly as possible to find the couple.
Authorities' Response
Indian and Nepalese administrations said they were cooperating, collecting details and promising to provide updates; Nepal Police had deployed 4,348 personnel for rescue operations.
Government support
Family's Rescue Appeal
The family is seeking stronger and more immediate government action because the couple remains unreachable.
Authorities' Response
Union Minister Nimuben Bambhaniya said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed concern and that India was supporting Nepal with medicines and relief supplies.
Key facts
- Missing couple
- Kinnari and Mihir Patel, a Vadodara-origin couple based in New Zealand
- Last reported journey
- They checked out of a Kathmandu hotel and reportedly left for Kailash Dham on August 21
- Nepal flood death toll
- 469 people, according to Nepal Police
- Injured or rescued
- 1,545 people were reported injured and rescued
- People missing
- 977 people were reported missing by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority
- Rescue deployment
- Nepal Police deployed 4,348 personnel, while 28 police personnel remained missing
- International assistance
- The United States announced USD 500,000 in assistance, and the World Health Organization sent emergency medical supplies
Quotes
Chirag Patel
Brother of missing Kinnari Patel
“My sister, Kinnari Patel, and her husband, Mihir Patel, had travelled directly to Kathmandu from New Zealand. They are NRIs based in New Zealand, where they have lived for 30 years, and they had made their bookings directly. We spoke to the hotel staff in Kathmandu; they informed us that the couple had stayed there for three days, checked out, and were now unreachable.”
rediff.com
m.rediff.com
“The government has promised to try and resolve the situation as soon as possible. There is only one appeal to the government: deploy the maximum number of helicopters, send in the Army in full force, and take action there as early as possible.”
rediff.com
m.rediff.com
Nimuben Bambhaniya
Union minister
“Our Prime Minister has expressed deep concern and is extending support...under the leadership of PM Modi, whenever a neighbour faces adversity, India stands firmly by their side during these difficult times, dispatching essential medicines and relief supplies.”
rediff.com
Sources
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