Terricia Govender
Image: Supplied
Despite warnings about further flooding, Isipingo Beach mother Linda Govender plans to travel to Nepal on Thursday to search for her missing daughter.
Terricia Govender, 33, was on pilgrimage with the Isha Foundation S3 travel group, at the immigration office on the Tibet-Nepal border when the flash floods hit last Wednesday.
Terricia is one of six South Africans who have been reported missing after the floods.
The other missing pilgrims are Ladysmith couples, Vivaganathan Pillay, 66, and his wife Janet, 56 and 74-year-old Surendranath Maharaj and his wife Anitha, 67.
The Pillays were a part of a group from Alpine Eco Trek and Expedition, while the Maharajs were on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route.
Emile Domun, the son-in-law of the Maharajs, said they were also praying for the couple’s safety.
“There is no news at the moment. As a family, we keep praying and that is all we can do. It is all in God's hands now,” he said.
The sixth missing person is 43-year-old Barika Ramjee from East London.
She was travelling with Kailash Journeys and is believed to have been near the border at the time of the floods.
Govender said her daughter started her pilgrimage on August 12 and had been looking forward to it for months.
She was travelling alone but was part of a larger tour group from the Isha Foundation, who were returning from the Mount Kailash Yatra when the catastrophe happened.
Govender said Terricia always wanted to do the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Nepal.
She said the last time she spoke to her daughter was on August 25 (Tuesday).
“On Wednesday, at about 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.
“Today (Tuesday) is day seven, and I will not give up hope that my daughter will be found.
“I am asking from the bottom of my heart for any advice, information, or assistance anyone can offer. If anyone has any contacts in Nepal, including hospitals, doctors, rescue teams, authorities, local communities or anyone who may be able to help us find Terricia, please contact me. Every bit of help matters,” appealed Govender.
Arvin Maharaj, a relative, said there was still hope.
74-year-old Surendranath Maharaj and his and 67-year-old Anitha also remain unaccounted for.
Image: Supplied
Barika Ramjee from East London
Image: Supplied
“We are praying for a miracle. Linda is flying out on Thursday to Kathmandu with her brother and Terricia’s friend. We have been assisted by Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Kathmandu is assisting us to put up colour posters of Terricia in different languages to assist with the search.”
He said Narend Singh, the deputy minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in South Africa, visited the family and assisted by reaching out to people in Nepal to help find Terricia.
“We are disappointed that we did not receive any communication or assistance from our local government. They have not reached out to us.
We contacted the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) for assistance. We do not know about diplomatic policies in times of disaster, and we expected our government to assist.
“Dr Imtiaz Suliman from Gift of the Givers contacted us and although they do not have the authority to provide relief in Nepal, he assured us that his team was on standby and ready to go should they receive authorisation from the Nepalese government.”
He said they received the most assistance from the Rotary Club of Kathmandu.
“Linda is eager to get there and get first-hand information about what is happening with the search. She cannot sit around indefinitely and wait for answers.
Vivaganathan Pillay, 66, and his 56-year-old wife Janet are also missing
Image: Supplied
“She wants to get as close to Terricia as possible. She was advised about the difficulties faced by those in Nepal after the mudslide, and the imminent danger of a second flooding.
“People have cautioned her, but she still feels like she needs to do this. She will do everything in her power to find her daughter. At this point, she has been given the go-ahead to land in Nepal, but the weather will determine if this is possible on Thursday.
“These seven days feel like forever. We pray everyday that she is somewhere and that she will return home safely,” Maharaj said.
