At least five New Zealand citizens remain missing following a catastrophic flash flood and landslide along the Nepal-China border that has killed at least 160 people, according to reports from Radio New Zealand (RNZ) and official confirmations. Families are urgently awaiting information as rescue and communication challenges hamper tracking efforts in the rugged Himalayan region.
Suhasini Reddy Missing on Australian Tour Group Trek
Among the missing New Zealanders is Suhasini Reddy, a mother-of-two who has lived in Australia for the past four years, according to her brother, Rajeev Reddy. Speaking to RNZ, Rajeev Reddy stated that his sister was believed to be in the Dhunche area heading toward the Nepal-China border on a Wednesday morning local time. She was hiking on day four of a 15-day trip with a group of friends from Australia through Kailash Journeys Guides.
Rajeev Reddy said his sister was scheduled to meet Chinese immigration officials around 11:00 am local time but has not been heard from since the flash flood struck. The family has contacted local hotels but received no check-in or checkout information. Before embarking on the trek, Suhasini Reddy visited her parents in India, leaving her youngest son there, while her other son remained with family in Australia.
Hamilton Business Owners Missing While Celebrating Birthday
A Hamilton couple owning the Best Value Urlich Ave Dairy, Mihir Patel and Kinnari Patel, are also unaccounted for after the disaster, according to their son, Drishya Patel. The couple was visiting Nepal to celebrate Kinnari Patel’s upcoming 50th birthday on what their son described to RNZ as a pilgrimage-style mountain tour.
Drishya Patel last spoke to his father the day before the flash flood and received a WhatsApp message from his mother at approximately 5:30 am local time from Timure stating they were leaving for Kerung. The earthquake that triggered the floods occurred at 8:37 am local time. While Drishya Patel remains hopeful that the couple departed ahead of the disaster, he confirmed to RNZ that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has been unable to provide definitive updates.
Dejan Kuzmic Missing on Sacred Pilgrimage
Another missing New Zealand citizen, Dejan Kuzmic, was traveling on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage to Mount Kailash when the disaster occurred, according to Nepal’s Tourist Police and RNZ reports. Kuzmic was part of the Isha Foundation’s Sacred Walks pilgrimage group traveling toward Mount Kailash.
A family friend, Seyed Sepehr Hosseini, told RNZ that he contacted the Isha Foundation and learned Kuzmic’s emergency contacts had been notified. Hosseini stated that Kuzmic was part of walk group S3 near a border crossing heavily impacted by the floods. New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to Hosseini that a consular case has been opened for Kuzmic.
Did You Know?
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is an ancient pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in the Himalayas, drawing thousands of devotees annually for cultural and religious observance despite challenging high-altitude terrain.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many New Zealanders are missing in the Nepal floods?
According to RNZ reports and official verifications, at least five New Zealand citizens are reported missing following the flash floods and landslides.
What caused the flash floods along the Nepal-China border?
The flash floods and landslides were triggered by an earthquake that struck the region at 8:37 am local time, according to accounts provided to RNZ.
Who should families contact with information regarding the missing New Zealanders?
Families have urged anyone with information about the missing travelers to contact them directly or reach out to New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), which has opened consular cases for affected citizens.
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