Ladysmith community prays for six South Africans missing after Nepal-Tibet floods

Ladysmith residents gathered on Sunday for a communal prayer meeting for six South Africans who remain missing after flash floods and mudslides on the Nepal-Tibet border. Religious leaders from different faiths led the service on the grounds opposite the Ganesha Temple on Azalea Drive as families and neighbours sought solidarity and hope.

Who is missing

The six South Africans reported missing are: Surendranath Maharaj, 74, and his wife Anita Devi Maharaj, 67, both from Ladysmith; Vivaganathan “Tony” Pillay, 66, and his wife Janet Pillay, 56; Bavila Ramjee, 43, from East London; and Terricia Govender, 33, from Isipingo Beach.

What happened in Nepal

Gift of the Givers says the Maharajs were last known to be travelling on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route near the Nepal-Tibet border when a flash flood and mudslide struck on August 26. The Pillays were travelling with the Alpine Eco Trek & Expedition group and are believed to have gone missing at the Nepal-Tibet/China border.

The disaster followed a glacier collapse in Tibet that sent a wall of water and debris through Nepal’s Rasuwa district, destroying roads, bridges and villages. Access to affected areas has been severely disrupted.

Search-and-rescue response

Gift of the Givers has placed specialist search-and-rescue teams, including SAPS dog handlers and trained dogs, on standby while remaining in contact with Nepalese authorities.

Community response in Ladysmith

In Ladysmith, the prayer gathering was described as a moment of unity and support for the missing and their families. The event brought together people of different faiths in a shared expression of hope.

Vivaganathan “Tony” Pillay is noted in the community for his involvement in religious structures, including assisting with the construction of the temple’s 17-metre Ganesha statue, organisers said.

Looking ahead

The community meeting in Ladysmith held a tone of solidarity as relief organisations and families await further information from search-and-rescue teams and Nepalese authorities.