Dozens of Canadians are still missing after a deadly landslide in Nepal. Michael Serapio reports. <\/p>\n
OTTAWA \u2014 Nepalese community organizations across the country cancelled annual cultural festivals over the weekend following the devastating flash flooding that struck Nepal and China.<\/p>\n
This weekend would normally be the annual Teej festival, a Hindu practice celebrating womanhood. Organizers across the country, in cities including Toronto, Brampton and Calgary, cancelled celebrations in light of the disaster.<\/p>\n
Punam Dhungel, president of the Nepali Canadian Women\u2019s Society of B.C., said her organization canceled their sold-out event for the first time ever.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a time where women to come together, pray, fast, sing, dance and celebrate their tradition,\u201d she said. \u201cWe were excited. We were planning for like over two months, and it was a hard decision, but the situation happened to Nepal and we felt this is not the right time to celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her group decided to redirect their $15,000 in ticket sales from some 300 people to humanitarian relief efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow the main thing is how to support the victims in Nepal. They are suffering, they\u2019re crying, people are mourning and we cannot just celebrate … so we just decided, OK, let\u2019s cancel for now and support the victims. That\u2019s more important for now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Flash flooding on Wednesday killed some 800 people and left roughly 3,000 missing, after a glacier collapsed in the Himalayan border region between Nepal and China.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/S676GPOSTG35T3SZB33FL2KLVA.jpg\")
People stand on remnants of a bridge which spanned across Trishuli river and was washed away in flash floods, in Dhading District, Nepal, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo\/Niranjan Shrestha) People stand on remnants of a bridge which spanned across Trishuli river and was washed away in flash floods, in Dhading District, Nepal, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo\/Niranjan Shrestha) <\/p>\n
Authorities in Nepal warned of possible fresh flooding on Sunday, urging residents in flood-affected districts to remain on high alert.<\/p>\n
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said on social media on Saturday that one Canadian who was previously unaccounted for had been found safe. <\/p>\n
Sudarshan Sapkota, president of Nepalese Canadian Community Services in Toronto, said many in the diaspora in Canada have family members back home who have been affected and some are still scrambling to learn about their loved ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are getting so many calls and messages from family members trying to reach out to their parents or relatives, but unfortunately some of them are still not in contact, are still missing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sapkota said he has three friends working on hydro-power projects, and while two have been accounted for, the third is still missing.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo of my friends were rescued and are fine, but one of my friends was inside one of the tunnels, we don\u2019t know where he is. The family and everyone is worried.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the entire Nepalese community across Canada is devastated and heartbroken.<\/p>\n
But Sapkota also said many sports clubs and other community organizations have turned to fundraising to help disaster relief, raising thousands through soccer and other events.<\/p>\n
Canada\u2019s federal government has said it will provide $5 million in urgent humanitarian aid to support Nepal.<\/p>\n
With files from The Associated Press<\/p>\n
Canadian Press Staff, The Canadian Press<\/p>\n
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