NEW YORK —Dozens of community members, local officials and diplomats gathered under umbrellas Thursday evening in rainy conditions in Ridgewood, Queens, for a candlelight vigil honoring victims of devastating flash flooding in Nepal.
Organized by the New York Nepalese Society and Durga Mandir New York, also known as Vedic Sanatan Center Inc., the memorial brought together members of the local Nepali diaspora, neighborhood residents and civic leaders at 1662 Stephen St. to offer prayers, observe a moment of silence and mobilize relief assistance.
Attendees held a candlelight vigil as religious officiants led traditional Vedic peace chants, known as Shanti Path, for those who died and those who remain missing.
“We are far away, and there isn’t much we can do physically, but we can stand in solidarity and raise financial assistance,” Rajesh Bhatta, president of the Ridgewood Nepalese Society, said during opening remarks. “The loss of property, infrastructure and human life is severe. We want to do whatever we can to help from here.”
Dadhiram Bhandari, Nepal’s consul general in New York, addressed the gathering and urged community members to rely on official updates rather than unverified social media reports. Bhandari said the consulate immediately activated emergency protocols and contact lines to assist affected individuals, including American citizens traveling in the region.
“The consulate is actively connected with local government authorities, search-and-rescue teams and diplomatic channels,” Bhandari said. He encouraged donors to direct financial support to official disaster funds or transparent, registered community channels to help ensure prompt delivery.
Amit Pratap Shah, the organization’s secretary, expressed condolences to the families of those killed and offered prayers for the injured and for the safe recovery of those still missing.
The vigil came as official emergency figures from Nepal underscored the growing scale of the disaster. According to the latest Nepal Police update on flooding in the Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi area, search-and-rescue teams had recovered 469 bodies across affected districts, including 178 in Chitwan, 110 in Nawalparasi East, 44 in Gorkha, 37 in Nuwakot, 33 in Dhading, 28 in Tanahun, 27 in Nawalparasi West and 12 in Rasuwa.
Nepal Police reported that 8,348 personnel had been deployed to the disaster zone for ongoing operations. Emergency responders had rescued or treated 1,545 injured people, while 84 were receiving treatment or had been discharged from hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley. In addition, 18 police personnel remained unaccounted for after the floodwaters surged.
Local politicians also attended the Queens event to express solidarity with the area’s large Nepali population. Representatives from New York City Council Member Sandra Ung’s district office offered support and pledged to help share verified donation channels through their networks.
New York Nepalese Society leaders announced that, in light of the tragedy, upcoming cultural celebrations, including scheduled Teej festival events, had been canceled so that community resources and attention could be directed toward emergency relief.
Community members seeking to help flood victims were advised to use official government donation portals. After the outdoor candlelight ceremony and moment of silence, attendees moved inside Durga Mandir to continue prayers.