Family of Canadians missing in Nepal floods desperate for news as death toll climbs

The brother of a Canadian man missing in Nepal's catastrophic flash floods says his family is desperate for any information about whether Dhaval and Megha Shah from Port Moody, B.C., have been rescued.

Dhaval Shah and his wife were on a spiritual journey when floods swept through an area along the Nepal-Tibet border. Kheval Shah, reached at his home in Mumbai, India, said the family has been on edge waiting for news.

"Everybody is on edge to get some news, if they're rescued or found or something," Kheval Shah said. "We're hoping that they find them and some miracles happen and we see them again."

Kheval last heard from his brother on Monday, and a cousin heard from the couple on Tuesday. He believes they were waiting for immigration offices to open in order to leave Nepal at the Tibet border when the floods hit.

Canadian authorities said one of the 32 Canadians and permanent residents missing in the region has been located safely. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed Saturday that telecommunications in affected areas of Nepal are being restored and that the risk of secondary flooding is now considered controllable.

Authorities report the combined death toll in Nepal and Tibet has risen to 676, with nearly 3,000 people missing. The Nepal Tourism Board said Friday that 121 foreign nationals have been rescued, though no Canadians were among them. Many of the missing were believed to have been on pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred site for Hindus, Buddhists and others.

Canada will send $5 million in urgent humanitarian aid to support Nepal, with funds earmarked for organizations like the Red Cross. More than 3,700 people have been rescued in Nepal as of Saturday.