Woman Shares Experience Searching for Her Missing Parents in Nepal

Shreya Ahuja, a 30-year-old physician from North Carolina, communicated with her parents shortly before devastating floods hit Nepal. Her parents had recently completed a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and were en route to the border.

The following morning, family members informed Ahuja about the flash floods. She initially attempted to contact her parents without alarm. “I feel like everyone thinks, what are the chances that they were in that exact spot?” she expressed to Morning Edition.

Recent data from Nepalese officials indicates over 500 fatalities on Nepal’s side of the border. Additionally, more than 1,500 individuals are still unaccounted for as near 30-foot-high waves swept through a river connecting Tibet and Nepal.

Deepak and Madhu Ahuja, Shreya’s parents, were Indian-born and moved to the United States in the 1990s. They are U.S. citizens and own a small business in Dallas. Their pilgrimage marked her father’s 60th birthday. CCTV footage identified their last location as the Gyirong border between China and Nepal, showing floodwaters demolishing the building their group was set to stay in.

Currently, Ahuja remains in Washington, D.C., with family, including her grandparents. “It’s essentially been one long day. Haven’t really slept,” she told NPR’s Steve Inskeep, expressing hope of reaching her parents in time.

Ahuja urged individuals to contact local legislators to enhance cooperation between India, Nepal, China, and the United States. She highlighted the importance of having Starlink approved in Nepal, mentioning that SpaceX had attempted to deploy technology but faced regulatory barriers. “These are all tangible things that could really help us get into contact with people on the ground,” Ahuja stated.

The complete interview can be listened to by pressing the play button above.