Several New Yorkers Among 90 Missing Americans in Nepal Floods

The flash floods in Nepal have resulted in the reported disappearance of nearly 100 Americans, including several residents from the tri-state area. Long Island residents Amita Amin, 67, and Jitendra Manubhai Patel, 63, along with Tejal Vyomesh Patel, 64, from New Jersey, were part of a seven-member tour group traveling to Tibet when the floods occurred on Wednesday, August 26, according to Newsday. Aditi Patel, the daughter of Tejal Patel and daughter-in-law of Amin, described the past 48 hours as devastating. She stated that the group departed from John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens to Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 22. The travelers, organized by Nepal Trekking Planner, had spent just over a day in Nepal before attempting to enter Tibet to visit Mount Kailash, a sacred site for various faiths. Aditi noted that the group was delayed due to landslides and vehicle issues, forcing them to spend an additional night in Kathmandu. She believes they may have entered the immigration building at the border before the floods struck. Jitendra Patel last communicated with his son, Sunny Patel, at 8:13 a.m. local time on Wednesday, shortly before the flooding began at approximately 8:37 a.m. Sunny Patel reported that his father had cleared Chinese immigration and was in Tibet at that time. Since then, they have been unable to reach him. Aditi also mentioned that she contacted various U.S. embassies and consulates for assistance. Additionally, Radhika Sharma reported her parents, Ramesh, 65, and Neelam, 64, missing after they crossed the Himalayan corridor with the same tour group. Sharma expressed her distress, stating that it has been an extremely difficult time for her and her brother. Dawa Cerpa, a restaurant owner in Jackson Heights, Queens, reported that his uncle has been missing since the floods. As of Thursday, the floods have resulted in over 390 fatalities, with at least 90 Americans reported missing and more than 1,400 individuals unaccounted for. The floods were triggered by a glacier collapse, with local officials describing the event as a 'tsunami from the sky.' Aditi Patel expressed hope for positive news regarding the missing individuals, stating the challenge lies in obtaining information during such a catastrophic event.