Community members are raising money for people they describe as brothers and sisters and loved ones, lost in the rapid flooding.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico’s Nepali community canceled a major festival and held a candlelight vigil after flooding in Nepal left families here grieving and waiting for answers.
Families gathered Sunday night in Albuquerque to light candles and pray for people killed or still missing in Nepal. Community members said the disaster hit close to home for many people in the state.
“Yeah, it is really hard to even imagine that this is one of the largest, biggest disasters that I have heard about, natural disaster,” said Yuba Shrestha, a member of the Nepali Society of New Mexico.
“And I can feel it and then every moment I can think of about them and then thinking of how can we support them in any way. That’s my feeling in every minute, every second,” said Prakash Poudel, president of the Nepali Society of New Mexico.
For some families, the wait for information is personal.
“So because actually like in this devastating scenario in Nepal, I’m losing like two of my students for whom I touched for four years,” CNM professor Ganga Acharya said. “And like now, they are, I don’t know, their situation is unknown.”
Families’ formed the shape of Nepal and the country’s flag as people prayed for loved ones thousands of miles away.
“We are far from our birthplace but it is very close to us. So we want to support them at least through the prayers or by other means in this difficult time. So that’s why we are united here,” said Keshav Sapkota.
“So we are just praying for that one today and we lead the candle in memories for the people who lost and we are praying the safe and safety for them who are still unsafe because of that,” said Anjana Neupane.
The community had planned to celebrate one of its biggest festivals next week. Instead, members canceled it and held the vigil.
“The world is going through the humanity, which is very important no matter where we are from, what part of the world we are from. We are all together. That’s the solidarity I can see now, which is very important for the human life,” said Poudel.
The Nepali Society of New Mexico is also raising money to help people impacted by the flooding. Poudel said Intel will match those donations.
