London's Nepalese community mourns international students killed in fatal crash

The Nepalese community in London, Ont., is mourningtwo international students from Nepal whodied in a multi-vehiclecollision north of the city earlyTuesday morning.

The Non-Residence Nepal Association (NRNA) Canada identified the victims as Sushil Bhattarai and Pasand Doma Sherpa, both from Nepal.

"We have a big [Nepalese] community over [in] London, so the community knows them very, very well," said Prajual Karki, the chairperson withNRNACanada. "Once the accident happenedsome of the friends in the region knew and they communicated with us."

Ten people were taken to hospital following the three-vehicle crash that happened at 5:23 a.m. on Tuesday on Highbury Avenue between 10 Mile Road and Ilderton Road. Middlesex OPP said a 23-year-old and 26-year-old from London died of their injuries, but did not identify them.

Madhu Thapa-Magar, 26, has been charged with two counts of dangerous operation causing death and three counts of dangerous operation causing bodily harm.

'Tragic incident'

Sahas Nath Adhikari, the secretary for the Nepalese Community of London (NCL), told CBC NewsBhattarai came from Nepaland was studying at Fanshawe College. Thecollege would not confirm withCBC News whether Bhattarai was studying at the school, but said they are offering support and grief counselling to students and staff.

"This is a very tragic incident," said Ramesh Chalise, the cultural lead for the NCL.

"After that accident happened, we got a call from different people, like dear friends. We are just focusing on how we deal with this situation and how we help them out."

Chalise said Bhattarai and Sherpa's families in Nepal have been informed about their deaths and have asked fortheir bodies to be returned to Nepal.

NRNA Canada started aGoFundMecampaignto raise money for repatriation costs and to assist those who were injured in the crash. As of Friday morning, they had raised more than $35,000.

Magar is being held in custody and is expected to appear in a London court for a bail hearing Friday.