“Colchester lights 108 candles for the victims of the Rasuwa flood”

On Saturday, 26 September, members of Colchester's Nepali community gathered with civic leaders, faith leaders and residents at Castle Methodist Church for a candlelit vigil. They came to remember the victims of the flash flood that devastated Rasuwa district in Nepal on 26 August.

The Colchester Nepalese Society organised the vigil at the church's invitation. It began at exactly 6 pm. The flood has claimed around 1,500 lives, and a further 6,000 people are still missing and presumed dead. It swept away homes, farmland and livelihoods. It also destroyed the bridges that connected villages to the outside world and the hydroelectric stations that powered them.

A community united in remembrance

The Chair and Trustee of the Colchester Nepalese Society opened the evening with a welcome address. "In a matter of hours, it took almost everything in its path," he said. "Tonight, we light these candles for every one of those lives, and for every family left to grieve them."

The Wimbish Military Wives Choir then sang for five minutes, and Kritika Sharma followed with a solemn Nepalese song.

The Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Andrew Ellis, spoke movingly about the tragedy Nepal has suffered. He said the city of Colchester stands with its Nepali community, and he offered his solidarity and a pledge to help Nepal in whatever way the city can.

The Mayor, the Chair of the Colchester Nepalese Society, the Garrison Commander and Reverend Chris Preece of Castle Methodist Church then lit the first candles. The congregation followed, lighting all 108 candles. The church then fell silent for two minutes as everyone remembered the people of Rasuwa together.

After the silence, Reverend Preece led prayers for the people of Rasuwa. The Wimbish Military Wives Choir sang four pieces chosen for the occasion, and Kritika Sharma sang a second Nepali song. A video presentation showed Rasuwa before, during and after the flood. The vigil closed with the national anthems of Great Britain and Nepal.

Colchester opens its heart.

Two days after the disaster, the Society launched a GoFundMe appeal. It has raised just over £17,500, around 3.45 million Nepalese rupees. Donors included:

• members of the public

• the Colin Bennett Foundation Trust

• Colchester's Gurkha veterans

• the local Nepalese diaspora

• Community 360 Seniors Club

• the Shiva Temple

• Rimjhim Spice of Stanway

• the Rotary Clubs of Colchester

"This city opened its heart," the Chair said. "Every single one of you who gave, whatever the amount, has made a real difference to families who have lost everything."

In the second week of October, Society member Mr Udek Gurung will hand the funds over in person to the government in Kathmandu. This will let the Society track exactly how Colchester's donation helps survivors rebuild their lives, and it will report back to donors after the handover.

The GoFundMe page closed at 8 pm on the evening of the vigil. The Chair also reminded the audience that disasters like this are worsened by climate change. He urged everyone to play their part, however small, in reducing global warming, for the sake of places like Rasuwa and for future generations.

Behind the scenes

The evening ran smoothly thanks to the church team. Clive managed the audio-visual side, playing the opening music and the before, during and after video exactly as planned. Bob found everything the event needed from within the church, and his resourcefulness made it all possible.

After the vigil, guests enjoyed a delicious curry supper organised by Captain Umesh Kumar Pun MVO. During the supper, the Chair thanked the Wimbish Military Wives Choir and presented a traditional Khukuri to its Chairman, Corrine Lampert, as a token of the community's gratitude.

It was a sombre but deeply moving evening. Colchester showed that, no matter how far away a tragedy happens, it will stand with its neighbours.

Udaibahadur Gurung MBE

Chair/Trustee

Colchester Nepalese Society (CNS)

Registered Charity Number 1152926