Metro Vancouver Families Desperately Await Answers as Two Couples Remain Missing in Nepal Flood Disaster

Date: August 30, 2026
By: Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi | Emmanuel Ayiku | British Columbia for GhanaianNewsCanada

The families of two Metro Vancouver couples are living through every parent’s and sibling’s worst nightmare.

Days after a catastrophic flash flood devastated the Nepal–Tibet border region, Dhaval and Megha Shah of Port Moody and Sumit and Shubakshi Rawla of Coquitlam remain among dozens of Canadians whose whereabouts are still unknown. The four were travelling on a guided pilgrimage to the sacred Mount Kailash region when disaster struck on August 26. 

As rescue teams continue searching through mountains of mud, rock and debris in Nepal, their loved ones across British Columbia say hope is fading—but not gone.

A journey that became tragedy

The two couples had travelled to Nepal as part of a religious and cultural pilgrimage through the Himalayas, one of the world’s most spiritually significant destinations for Hindus and Buddhists.

According to relatives, the group was staying near the Timure border crossing when a massive wall of water swept through the valley after the collapse of a Himalayan glacier triggered one of the region’s deadliest flash floods in recent history. Entire villages, hotels, bridges and roads were destroyed within minutes. 

Family members say the last known contact came early that morning, shortly before communications disappeared completely.

“We just want answers”

In Port Moody, relatives of Dhaval and Megha Shah say the emotional uncertainty has been overwhelming.

The couple were reportedly having breakfast at a hotel near the Nepal–China border before beginning the next leg of their journey. Moments later, the flood engulfed the area.

Their family says they are not asking for miracles—they simply want to know what happened.

Meanwhile, in Coquitlam, the Rawla family has spent days making hundreds of unanswered phone calls in the hope that even one message might come through.

Friends describe Sumit and Shubakshi Rawla as devoted parents and compassionate members of the community whose disappearance has shaken the local South Asian population across Metro Vancouver.

Canada intensifies its response

Global Affairs Canada has confirmed that Canadian consular officials are working closely with Nepalese authorities to locate missing citizens and support affected families.

The federal government has also announced $5 million in humanitarian assistance to support emergency relief efforts through international humanitarian organizations operating on the ground. 

Officials caution that being listed as missing does not necessarily mean the individuals have died, as damaged infrastructure and collapsed communication networks continue to make identification and rescue operations extremely difficult.

One of the Himalayas’ deadliest disasters
The flood has become one of the worst natural disasters to hit the Nepal–Tibet region in recent years.

Authorities say the disaster was triggered by the sudden collapse of a glacier high in the Himalayas, sending enormous volumes of ice, mud and rock into mountain rivers before devastating communities downstream.

Thousands remain missing across Nepal and neighbouring Tibet, while hundreds have already been confirmed dead. 

Rescue helicopters, military personnel and emergency workers continue searching remote valleys despite dangerous conditions and the threat of additional flooding.

A community united in hope

Across Metro Vancouver, members of the Nepali, Indian and wider South Asian communities have organized prayer vigils and support networks for the affected families.

Community leaders say the tragedy has reminded Canadians how closely connected British Columbia remains to families and cultures across the Himalayas.

For now, four empty seats remain at the centre of two Vancouver-area families.
And until answers arrive from Nepal, hope remains the strongest thing they have left.