Hong Kong Nepalese man searches for cousin missing in flood: ‘I cannot sleep’

A Hong Kong Nepalese man is searching for his cousin who is missing after the catastrophic flood struck the Himalayan border between Nepal and Tibet.
Y.B. Gurung, a 64-year-old retiree, told the South China Morning Post that he last spoke with his tour guide cousin Raju Gurung, 40, at 8am on August 26, shortly before a massive glacial collapse triggered the flash flood that washed away villages and left at least 1,225 people dead.
“I cannot sleep every night. I am praying every day that he was rescued,” Gurung said on Thursday.
At the time of the disaster, his cousin was leading a 42-member team on a pilgrimage into Tibet.
The family has tried desperately to locate him by reaching out to the Chinese embassy, but to no avail.
As of Wednesday, China had confirmed 21 deaths and 541 missing people.
In Nepal, the death toll rose to 1,252 as of 10am Thursday, with about 4,875 people still missing.

Yau Tsim Mong district councillor Aruna Gurung said about 60 Nepalese residents in Hong Kong hailed from the Trishuli River region, which had been devastated.
She confirmed two members of the local Nepalese community had died in the disaster.
“The Nepalese community here is seeking help to verify information and asking for materials and donations to be delivered to those in need in the region,” she said. “We are deeply worried about the situation.”
The Non-Resident Nepalese Association said it had raised HK$126,311 (US$16,100) in relief funds as of Wednesday.
The organisation also said it estimated Hong Kong’s Nepalese community would come together and eventually contribute about HK$1 million.
Satya Gahatraj, the women’s coordinator for the association, said the group had cancelled its five-day celebrations marking the Hindu women’s festival of Teej. The event was originally scheduled to start on September 13.
The association will join two other local Nepalese NGOs and the office of district councillor Gurung to hold an event next Monday to mourn the victims, with support from the Nepalese consulate.
The Hong Kong Red Cross will also offer support services at the event.
The association encouraged Hongkongers seeking to donate to do so through the consulate, which would pass the funds directly to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.
No 2 city official Eric Chan Kwok-ki signed a book of condolence at the Nepalese consulate on Thursday.

“In this difficult time, Hong Kong stands with the government and people of Nepal,” he wrote on social media.
“We sincerely wish the injured a speedy recovery, and hope the affected people can rebuild their homes and return to normal life as soon as possible.”