Sushil Bhattarai, Pasand Doma Sherpa Obituary – The Nepalese community in London, Ontario is currently grieving the loss of two international students from Nepal who tragically passed away in a multi-vehicle collision north of the city early Tuesday morning. The Non-Residence Nepal Association (NRNA) Canada has identified the victims as Sushil Bhattarai and Pasand Doma Sherpa, both hailing from Nepal.
Prajual Karki, the chairperson of NRNA Canada, expressed the close-knit nature of the Nepalese community in London, stating, “We have a significant Nepalese community in London, so the community is very familiar with them. Once news of the accident spread, some friends in the area informed us.”
Following the three-vehicle crash at 5:23 a.m. on Tuesday, ten individuals were transported to the hospital. The Middlesex OPP confirmed the unfortunate deaths of a 23-year-old and a 26-year-old from London due to their injuries but did not disclose their identities. Madu Thapa Magar, 26, has been charged with two counts of dangerous operation causing death and three counts of dangerous operation causing bodily harm.
Sahas Nath Adhikari, the secretary for the Nepalese Community of London (NCL), informed CBC News that Bhattarai had arrived from Nepal with his wife and was studying at Fanshawe College. While the college did not confirm Bhattarai’s enrollment, they assured CBC News that they are providing support and counseling services to students and staff affected by the incident.
Ramesh Chalise, the cultural lead for the NCL, described the incident as a tragic one. He shared, “After the accident, we received calls from concerned individuals, including dear friends. Our focus is on how we can navigate this situation and extend our assistance.”
Chalise also mentioned that the families of Bhattarai and Sherpa in Nepal have been notified of their untimely deaths and have requested the repatriation of their bodies.
NRNA Canada has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for repatriation expenses and to aid those injured in the crash. As of Thursday afternoon, the campaign has garnered over $11,000 in donations.
Magar is currently in custody and is scheduled to appear in a London court for a bail hearing on Friday.