The family of 33-year-old Terricia Govender, from Isipingo Beach is anxiously awaiting news of her whereabouts after she went missing when devastating flash floods struck the Nepal-Tibet border.
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The family of a 33-year-old woman from Isipingo Beach is anxiously awaiting news of her whereabouts after she went missing when devastating flash floods struck the Nepal-Tibet border.
Terricia Govender was among a travel group that was at the border when an immigration office was washed away in the floods on Wednesday.
Her mother, Linda Govender, told POST Terricia had embarked on her pilgrimage on August 12 and had been looking forward to the trip for months.
Govender was travelling alone but was part of a larger tour group associated with the Isha Foundation, which was returning from the Mount Kailash Yatra when the disaster struck.
The family was informed by the foundation that Terricia was among those missing.
“She was so excited to be part of the Sadhguru group. She was his devoted follower,” her mother said.
“She was part of the S3 group. She always wanted to visit the birthplace of Lord Shiva.”
The family last spoke to Terricia on Tuesday while she was shopping and sightseeing.
Govender said they had been on a video call during which her daughter showed her some of the places she had visited.
“After a while, she went back to her hotel to sleep. We were meant to speak again yesterday, but she never called,” she said.
Initially, the family believed the silence was due to poor cellphone reception.
“I waited but thought that the signal was just bad. At 2.30pm, we got an email from the foundation saying she was part of the group which was at the border and was now missing,” Govender said.
“That is all the information we have received. We know nothing else.”
The family has been left feeling helpless as they wait for information from thousands of kilometres away.
“It is so difficult being in another country and not being able to know anyone there to help us. We are lost and distraught,” Govender said.
The situation has been particularly difficult for the family because Terricia recently celebrated her 33rd birthday during the pilgrimage.
Govender said her daughter celebrated her birthday on August 20 with Sadhguru, which she described as a special moment.
“She just celebrated her birthday with Sadhguru. She felt as if she had met him for the first time on her birthday,” she said.
The family was devastated after seeing footage of the flooding and began wondering where Terricia was when the disaster struck.
“When we saw the videos of the flooding, we were devastated, thinking where she must have been when it happened and where she is now. I do not want to watch the videos. It is heartbreaking.”
Govender appealed to anyone with information about her daughter or the affected group to come forward.
“She is my second child of three. She is kind, intelligent and loving. We are just pleading to anyone who knows any information to please help us. We want her to be found safe and brought home to us.”
The family is also seeking clearer communication from authorities and organisations involved in the search.
“We just want information. Not even the embassy is helping us,” Govender said.
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