Prayers at vigil for nurse missing in Nepal floods

Prayers have been said at a vigil in Kent for a nurse who went missing in the flash floods in Nepal.

Sarada Simkhada, a senior nurse at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, was on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash when the floods hit on 26 August, leaving at least 1,200 dead and thousands missing.

Simkhada is one of 33 British nationals unaccounted for, many of whose families have flown out to the country's Tibetan border to help in the ongoing search for survivors.

Her brother, Shambhu, said that her family was desperately waiting for news that she was alive and implored her to "please stay strong, wherever you are."

At the vigil in Dartford, Rajendra Pudasaini, a childhood friend of Simkhada, described her as "a wise nurse, very humble person and a very, very active community member".

He said that the was no information regarding her whereabouts.

Tatajana Phillips, from Folkestone, is also worried for her sister, Julija Jakovicka, who was in Nepal for a yoga retreat when tragedy struck, while Pramod Poudel, from Uckfield in East Sussex, fears his wife, mother, brother and uncle will never be found.

In addition, Spandan Sahu, 18, from Surrey, is missing along with his father, mother and 13-year-old sister.

In a previous interview with BBC Radio Kent, Medway Council's Nina Gurung, who is a representative of the Gurkha-Nepalese community, described the situation as "absolutely shocking and devastating".

She added that another vigil will be held at Gillingham's Hindu temple on Sunday, organised by the Nepalese community in Medway.

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