New Zealanders missing after flash flood in Nepal identified

The identities of the New Zealanders missing in Nepal following a flash flood are coming to light, with families awaiting information on their whereabouts.At least five New Zealanders have been reported missing following the flash flood and landslide that hit the Nepal-China border and killed at least 160 people.One of the New Zealand citizens missing is Suhasini Reddy, who has been living in Australia for the last four years.Reddy's brother, Rajeev Reddy, told RNZ his sister, a mother-of-two, was believed to be in the Dhunche area heading towards the Nepal-China border on Wednesday morning local time.Reddy was hiking with a group of friends from Australia with the Kailash Journeys Guides, her brother said. The floods occurred on day four of the 15-day trip.Reddy said his sister was supposed to be meeting Chinese immigration about 11am local time. They had not heard anything from her since the flash flood."We really don't know. We've contacted the hotel, the person of contact says she's not there, and at the moment he can't provide any information regarding the checkouts and check-ins."At least 160 people are dead following the flash flood and landslide.SuppliedHe last spoke to his sister the night before the floods, while she was in Kathmandu."She was all good, excited," he said."She had this trip planned for a while."Before heading on the trip Suhasini Reddy visited her parents in India where she left her youngest son. Her other son is with family in Australia.Rajeev Reddy said the family were desperate for information."We actually don't know what's happening ... we're just saying that she'll be okay," he said.The family appealed for anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact them.Hamilton couple was celebrating 50th birthday in NepalMihir Patel and Kinnari Patel, who own the Best Value Urlich Ave Dairy in Hamilton, are among the New Zealanders missing.SuppliedThe son of a Hamilton couple missing following the Nepal flash flood is holding onto hope his parents left the area in the hours before the landslide struck.Mihir Patel and Kinnari Patel, who own the Best Value Urlich Ave Dairy in Hamilton, were also among the missing New Zealanders.Their eldest son, Drishya Patel, told RNZ the couple were visiting Nepal to celebrate his mother's upcoming 50th birthday. The couple had been gone for about a week, he said."They're just on a trip to go visit some of the mountains in Nepal. It's like a pilgrimage of sorts."Drishya Patel spoke to his father the day before the flash flood. He said the couple's trip was going "really good"."They were having a good time."He last got a message from his mother on WhatsApp about 5.30am local time from Timure."Leaving for Kerung," the message said.The earthquake that triggered the floods occurred at 8.37am local time.Drishya Patel said he was "shocked" when he first heard the news of the landslide. The family has heard nothing from the couple since.He hoped that the couple left when they sent the message, about three hours beforehand."As long as like they actually did leave when my mum sent me that message, I'm hopeful. These guys tend to run things on time, these tour guides," he said."But again, haven't heard anything confirming."He had spoken with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), but he said "they don't know anything either".Drishya Patel, who is a medical student, had an exam on Thursday. He said he was still coming to terms with everything."I don't think I've processed it… realisations slowly setting in as every hour passes, and I don't hear anything, and no one knows anything."Another missing Kiwi was on pilgrimageAnother New Zealander, Dejan Kuzmic was travelling on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, when the disaster struck.Nepal's Tourist Police confirmed Kuzmic's name to RNZ on Thursday morning.He was part of the Isha Foundation's Sacred Walks pilgrimage group, which was travelling towards Mount Kailash, revered by Hindus as the abode of Lord Shiva.RNZ has also spoken to a family friend, who confirmed the family had been unable to contact Kuzmic since the floods."He was part of the Isha Foundation's walk group S3 and was at the border crossing, which was hit quite heavily within a reasonable time, which makes us believe he may have been involved," said Seyed Sepehr Hosseini, whose mother attends a meditation group with Kuzmic.Hosseini contacted the Isha Foundation, which told him Kuzmic's emergency contacts had been notified.He also contacted New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which said it had opened a consular case for Kuzmic.Mount Kailash is revered by Hindus as the abode of Lord Shiva, while nearby Lake Mansarovar is also considered sacred.India's official Kailash Mansarovar Yatra portal describes the pilgrimage as having deep religious and cultural significance.Hindu devotees believe completing the pilgrimage and taking a holy dip in Lake Mansarovar can cleanse a lifetime of sins and help attain moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth.