Port Moody Couple Missing After Nepal-Tibet Floods

A couple from Port Moody, B.C., is missing after devastating floods and mudslides triggered by a glacial outburst along the Nepal-Tibet border, leaving their family deeply concerned.

According to reports, 52-year-old Dhaval Shah and his 50-year-old wife, Megha Shah, were travelling to Tibet to visit the sacred Mount Kailash. The couple was staying at Hotel Kailash in the Timure area near the Nepal-China border shortly before the floods struck Wednesday morning. They were preparing to head toward a border checkpoint when contact with their tour company was lost.

Dhaval Shah’s family said he previously served as a Navy captain and are hopeful that he may have used his training to find a safe location and protect himself and his wife. The family is waiting for the couple to return safely.

Another B.C.-connected couple, Shubhi Rawla and Sumit Rawla, has also been reported missing.

According to Canada’s Foreign Affairs Department, 30 Canadians have so far been identified as missing following the disaster. The Canadian government is also sending five officials to Kathmandu to coordinate with Nepalese authorities.