Lexington, Mass. – The Rai family of Lexington is living with a painful uncertainty after Jiwan Jyoti, 50, disappeared while traveling on a spiritual pilgrimage in the Himalayas. Jyoti was part of a group of about 40 travelers, many of them foreigners, when a massive avalanche triggered flooding and mudslides that devastated the Nepal‑China border town of Rasuwadadhi on Wednesday morning.
Family’s hope and prayer
Jyoti’s daughter, Hunar Rai, said her mother had been planning the trip for months as a birthday celebration and a personal pilgrimage. “She’d been thinking of doing this for a while, and I guess she gifted it to herself,” Rai recalled.
Just before the disaster, Jyoti called home to let her family know she was about to cross into Tibet. Roughly thirty minutes later, the region was hit by the avalanche and subsequent mudslides that swept away a border checkpoint, a bridge, vehicles, trees and, tragically, people.
Scale of the disaster
Satellite imagery confirmed extensive destruction in Rasuwadadhi. Nepalese officials reported more than 390 deaths and over 1,400 people missing as of Thursday night. The U.S. State Department said it was aware of roughly 90 American citizens affected by the floods, three of whom have been rescued. No American deaths have been confirmed.
“We checked the news. It looked horrendous over there,” Rai said, describing the images she saw. The expedition company, Himalayan Glacier, posted on social media that communication with the group has been extremely difficult, but they are working to relay information from the ground.
Local response and assistance
Massachusetts officials are coordinating with the State Department and local authorities in Nepal to provide monetary assistance and support to the Rai family as the search continues. The State Department’s consular team is maintaining contact with the family, offering updates as they become available.
For the Lexington family, each passing hour feels like an eternity. “Every second, every minute of the day, just waiting to hear anything,” Rai said. She described her mother as “incredibly loved” and praised her “beautiful personality.”
Faith sustaining the family
Amid the uncertainty, the family is leaning on their Christian faith. “We’re trying to hold on to anything we have at this moment. And yeah, she’s not one to let go,” Rai said, emphasizing that their belief in God provides comfort during this crisis.
The community in Lexington has rallied around the family, offering prayers, meals and moral support. Local churches have organized prayer vigils, and neighbors have set up a donation drive to help cover travel and emergency expenses.
What’s next?
Rescue teams in Nepal continue to search the devastated area, though the terrain remains treacherous. Officials say the priority is to locate survivors and recover the missing, including Jyoti. The Rai family remains hopeful that the combined efforts of international responders and the power of prayer will bring her home.
As the situation develops, the Lexington community will keep watching for updates and standing with the Rai family in prayer and solidarity.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
