Sacramento Nepali community seeks support for flood victims in Nepal
CARMICHAEL, Calif. —
The Nepali community in Sacramento is calling for prayers and cash donations as they reconnect with loved ones in Nepal following devastating floods that have displaced thousands.
Typically in August, the Nepali community celebrates Raksha Bandhan, a traditional Hindu festival that symbolizes protection, prosperity, and the bond between siblings, friends, and family.
“It’s like Christmas. One of the regular days, people celebrate this in Nepal,” said Deepak Maskey, president of the Greater Sacramento Nepali Community Center.
Maskey noted that this year’s celebration is different, with fewer people participating. “If you look at it, it’s only a few people. There are supposed to be hundred or over a hundred. In the history, there was so much traffic,” he said.
The flooding in Nepal has displaced thousands, and many families in Sacramento are closely monitoring the situation. “Including Roseville, Rocklin, Elk Grove, Davis, Woodland; there’s many families exactly from that location,” Maskey said.
Jagadish Shrestha, general secretary of the Greater Sacramento Nepali Community Center, shared his personal experience of reconnecting with a relative who was rescued after being stranded for a day and night on the top floor of her house with no communication.
“One of my relatives, a victim in this flood. She was rescued yesterday morning. She had been on the top floor of the house, one full day and one night. There was no communication. She was alone,” Shrestha said.
He added, “Luckily she was rescued yesterday. But a lot of people are missing. I follow a program and they are recovering a lot of bodies.”
Search and rescue teams from around the world are working to locate over 2,000 people still missing.
Sandhya BC, who has family in Nepal, expressed the emotional toll of the disaster. “Honestly, I think it will be hard to move forward with this. The best we can do is take it day by day, and help as most as we can and be there for people who are there,” she said.
Sandhya, who often spends time with her family at the community center, emphasized the importance of connecting with others during this difficult time. “Especially the community here. It’s good to talk to someone. To have someone who relates to you and you can vent it out,” she said.
The community center is currently focused on collecting cash donations to send to Nepal, as physical donations are challenging to transport due to the distance and devastation in the area. The Nepali government has also established a relief fund to support those affected.
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(Video below: Shelterbox USA provides aid to Nepal)
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