A Berkeley restaurant owner whose relatives are missing after catastrophic flooding in Nepal has joined community members in lighting candles for those feared dead, while raising money for relief efforts.
Binita Poudel, who runs Taste of the Himalayas on Shattuck Avenue, said as many as 10 members of her extended family may be unaccounted for after flash floods devastated parts of the Nepal-Tibet border region. Her husband’s uncle and cousin are among those missing. ([abc7news.com](https://abc7news.com/post/nepal-tibet-flooding-bay-area-nepalese-community-rallies-support-flood-disaster-victims-thousands-missing/19766698/))
“I called them. Nobody picks up the phone,” Ms Poudel said, describing the agonising wait for news.
Despite the lack of contact, she said her family was holding on to hope that those missing had reached safety. “We hope they are missing somewhere, and they’re going to come out,” she said. ([abc7news.com](https://abc7news.com/post/nepal-tibet-flooding-bay-area-nepalese-community-rallies-support-flood-disaster-victims-thousands-missing/19766698/))
Taste of the Himalayas hosted the candlelight vigil and fundraiser on Sunday evening, bringing together members of the Bay Area’s Nepalese community to pray for the missing and remember those who have died.
The gathering also aimed to raise humanitarian aid for people affected by the disaster. “A little bit helps. One dollar helps,” Ms Poudel said. ([abc7news.com](https://abc7news.com/post/nepal-tibet-flooding-bay-area-nepalese-community-rallies-support-flood-disaster-victims-thousands-missing/19766698/))
The vigil came as families across the Bay Area continued trying to contact relatives in Nepal, where power cuts and damaged communications have made it difficult to establish who has survived.
Another community event was held in Hercules after council member Dilli Bhattari spent up to two days unable to reach his nephew, Prakash, who had been travelling in Nepal. The nephew was later found safe, but Mr Bhattari said many other families remained waiting for answers. ([abc7news.com](https://abc7news.com/post/nepal-tibet-flooding-bay-area-nepalese-community-rallies-support-flood-disaster-victims-thousands-missing/19766698/))
Members of the Nepali Association of Northern California have also organised vigils and appealed for donations as rescue and recovery operations continue. ([abc7news.com](https://abc7news.com/post/bay-area-residents-anxiously-search-loved-ones-catastrophic-flooding-nepal/19756077/))
