‘Please stay strong’: vigil held for Kent nurse missing in Nepal floods
Family and friends of a Kent nurse missing in Nepal have gathered at a vigil in Dartford, where prayers were offered for her safe return.
Sarada Simkhada, a senior nurse at Darent Valley Hospital, was on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash when severe flash floods struck Nepal on 26 August. The disaster has killed at least 1,200 people and left thousands missing, in one of the worst monsoon-related tragedies to hit the Himalayan country in years.
Simkhada is among 33 British nationals unaccounted for. Many of their relatives have already flown to the country’s Tibetan border to help with the search.
Her brother, Shambhu, made an emotional plea during the vigil, saying the family was desperately waiting for any sign that she was alive. “Please stay strong, wherever you are,” he said.
Rajendra Pudasaini, a childhood friend who attended the vigil, described Simkhada as “a wise nurse, very humble person and a very, very active community member.” He told those assembled that there was still no information about her whereabouts.
The trauma was compounded for many families by the horrifying aftermath of the floods. Mudslides followed the rising waters, burying homes and vehicles in Nuwakot district, north of Kathmandu, according to Reuters.
Similar anguish is being felt by other families across the UK. Tatajana Phillips, from Folkestone, is worried about her sister Julija Jakovicka, who had travelled to Nepal for a yoga retreat. Pramod Poudel, from Uckfield in East Sussex, fears that his wife, mother, brother and uncle may never be found. Spandan Sahu, 18, from Surrey, has also disappeared along with his father, mother and 13-year-old sister.
In a previous interview with BBC Radio Kent, Nina Gurung, a Medway councillor and representative of the Gurkha-Nepalese community, described the situation as “absolutely shocking and devastating.” She said the Nepalese community in Medway had organised another vigil, due to be held on Sunday at Gillingham’s Hindu temple.
The catastrophic flooding has renewed attention on Nepal’s vulnerability to extreme monsoon rainfall and the immense challenges facing rescue teams working across remote and mountainous terrain. Relief and recovery operations have been intensified, according to the United Nations, while those waiting at home remain in limbo, hoping for any news of their loved ones.