Nepali authorities have requested DNA samples from the direct families of six missing South Africans, following devastating floods across Nepal and China, as search and rescue teams continue operations in the Himalayan region.
On August 26, a flood in the region of Nepal and China caused widespread devastation, and initial efforts resulted in more than 1 000 bodies being recovered, while thousands remain missing, including tourists, pilgrims, and hydropower workers.
Among the missing are six South African citizens Surendranath Maharaj, 74, and his wife, Anita Devi Maharaj, 67; Vivaganathan “Tony” Pillay, 66, and his wife, Janet Pillay, 56; Bavika Ramjee, 43; and Terricia Govender, 33.
Countries and organisations worldwide have stepped up to offer humanitarian aid, pledging millions in support.
The Nepali government had limited access to the affected zone, and allowed four friendly countries, India, China, Australia and South Korea, to help with rescue operations.
South African High Commissioner to India, Nepal and Bangladesh, Professor Anil Sooklal, said they continue to liaise through their honorary consul of South Africa to Nepal, Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, with the Nepali authorities, who recently requested DNA samples of the missing South Africans from their direct families. The High Commission facilitated handing them over to the Nepali authorities a few days ago.
He said the embassy has been contacted directly by families, and they have provided assistance that was requested thus far.
He said one family requested assistance to travel from Nepal to Tibet hoping to identify their family member’s items, after China recovered personal belongings from the site. He connected them with their embassy staff in Beijing to facilitate travel through to Tibet and get help from China.
“We continue to follow closely. The families are in touch with us but it’s a slow process on the side of the Nepalis, given the large number of persons who still are missing. Recovery efforts are ongoing but they keep us informed if and when they do identify bodies,” Sooklal said.
“The first thing they do is contact the embassies of those nationals. But our honorary consul has staff still in that area. And we liaise with him regularly. He keeps us updated on the progress that’s going on but it’s a very complex and slow process as well, and we have to understand the scale of it.”
Sooklal said that a number of countries continue to assist the Nepal government.
“India, China and Australia are there with their best equipment, technology, search and rescue teams, including K9 units. They are quite thorough, and these countries also have some of the best search and rescue outfits in the world,” Sooklal said.
Linda Govender, Terricia’s mother, has travelled to Nepal to search for her daughter.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Govender said 21 days had passed but her hope had not moved an inch.
“Every morning I wake with the same prayer. Please let today be the day my daughter comes home,” Govender said.
“I refuse to let distance, silence or time convince me to stop searching. A mother’s heart does not have an expiry date on hope. As long as there is a possibility, I will keep looking. As long as there are unanswered questions, I will keep asking. As long as Terricia is not home, mummy will not stop.”
Last week, Govender flew via helicopter towards the place where her daughter was last seen, describing it as an “incredibly emotional day” for her.
“Nothing can prepare a mother for that moment — being in the air, looking down towards the very place where her child is missing,” Govender said.
“I had to see it for myself. I had to be there. I needed to look with my own eyes, even though I knew how painful it would be… I saw the border. But my heart was searching for Terricia,” Govender said.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post over the weekend, the Isha Foundation said that 77 participants of the Kailash Manasarovar Sojourn and three volunteers remain unaccounted for.
“The authorities have indicated that identification work at the site is ongoing and, given the conditions, may take considerable time,” the foundation said.
It said that a team of 25 volunteers in Nepal is supporting search-and-rescue efforts by coordinating with local authorities, visiting hospitals and mortuaries, and assisting families with shipping personal belongings.
