Aerial search: Heartbreak as Durban mother sees ruins where daughter went missing in Nepal floods - IOL

Terricia Govender's friend Sashin Maharaj, her mom Linda Govender, and uncle Selva Govender embarked on an aerial search for her.

Relentless in her search for her daughter Terricia, Durban mother Linda Govender described the heartbreak she felt as she flew in a helicopter over the building Terricia was believed to be in at the time of the floods.

Govender said on Wednesday that they were finally able to do an aerial search after being granted permission to fly in the search and rescue helicopter.

Today is the 18th day since her daughter has been missing.

“Seeing the absolutely devastating effect of the flood on the landscape and surrounding villages was heartbreaking. There is an immeasurable human cost to this disaster.

“It was even harder when we got to the border area and were able to see for the first time the foundations of the building where we believe Terricia was at the time of the flood. 

The foundation of the Gyirong port border facility where Terricia is believed to have been when the floods struck.

“Being right there and not being able to access that area was a type of torture I would never wish on my worst enemy.”

Govender said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) had confirmed that they had initiated communication with the Chinese authorities to request permission for them to view the items recovered at the search site.

“We are trying to be patient as the process is undertaken. Today, we are being assisted by a search and rescue organisation who have agreed to assist us. 

An aerial view of the disaster-struck area.

“We find kindness and shared humanity across all borders, and we hope this translates across the border we really need right now,” Govender added.

Terricia Govender remains one of six South African pilgrims who have been missing since the disaster struck on August 26.

The other pilgrims are: Barika Ramjee, 43, from East London; and Ladysmith couples, Vivaganathan Pillay, 66, and his wife Janet, 56 and 74-year-old Surendranath Maharaj and his wife Anitha, 67.