Nepal floods kill 469; KC group plans Overland Park vigil

Kumar Gaurab called his father in Nepal as soon as he heard about the flooding.

His parents are safe.

"When we came to know, we were kind of shocked. So right after that, I called my dad. And dad was like, 'we are okay.' But things are not okay where the incident happened," Gaurab told KCTV5 on Aug. 28.

Gaurab is president of the Kansas City Nepalese Society, which represents 300 to 400 families across the metro area. He was born and raised in Nepal and has lived in Kansas City for more than a decade. His parents live close to the rivers that flooded.

The society's board met Aug. 25 to build a plan that includes fundraising, community outreach and a possible candlelight vigil at Thomas Stoll Park in Overland Park. Gaurab said the vigil could happen as soon as Sept. 2, though the date and location had not been finalized as of Thursday.

Participation is not limited to the Nepalese community, Gaurab said.

The disaster

A glacier collapse in the Himalayan Mountains sent a wall of water and mud several stories high through communities along the Nepal-China border. Nepal police said Friday, Aug. 28, that the country's death toll had risen to 469, according to NBC New York. Together, Nepal and China have reported more than 1,500 people missing.

The U.S. State Department said 90 Americans were unaccounted for in China and Nepal, though it was unaware of any U.S. deaths and said three Americans had been rescued, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The Red Cross launched a $31 million emergency appeal, estimating 93,000 people may have been affected, according to The Guardian. Both countries warned of new flooding risks from lakes forming along debris-choked rivers.

Nepal's disaster management authority said Friday that 3,253 people had been airlifted by helicopter from the disaster area.

Local response

Gaurab said no one in the local Nepalese community has reported a missing family member so far. But downed communications in the hardest-hit areas could change that picture. He said the community is extremely sad and hopes those still missing are alive.

Those who want to help can donate to Nepal's official Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund at pmdrf.nchl.com.np. The Kansas City Nepalese Society said it will share updates on the vigil as plans are confirmed.