Hundreds Missing In Nepal Floods, 77 From Sadhguru’s Kailash Yatra Group

KATHMANDU – Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev said 77 pilgrims from the Isha Foundation were missing after a flash flood struck an immigration center in Gyirong, Tibet, near the China-Nepal border, as they were returning from the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.

Sadhguru said on August 26 that he was personally in the region overseeing efforts to locate and rescue the missing pilgrims.

“A terrible and tragic flash flood has taken place at Gyirong in Tibet – China, and one of our Kailash groups was caught in it,” Sadhguru said in a post. He said the group was at the immigration office on its way back from the pilgrimage when the flood struck, flooding the building and much of the town.

“All of us, including the volunteers and support teams are deeply anguished and are doing our utmost to assist in the rescue,” he said, adding that there was no official information on the whereabouts of those who were at the immigration center.

Sadhguru said 21 groups had taken part in the pilgrimage, with 495 people having returned safely. Another 743 people were in Tibet, 148 were in Nepal, 77 were at the immigration center and three volunteers were in Timure, Nepal, he said.

“To the families and loved ones of those in our group and hundreds of others who are affected in the region, I share your pain and we are sparing no effort during this profoundly difficult time,” he said.

Separately, more than 100 Indians are among 384 tourists reported missing in Nepal after flash floods in the Bhote Koshi River hit the Rasuwa region on August 26, according to a preliminary situation update issued by the Nepal Tourism Board.

The 384 missing tourists include 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali citizens. The foreign nationals include 105 from India, as well as travelers from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, South Africa and the Netherlands.

The flash floods caused major disruption in the Rasuwa region, raising concerns over the safety of tourists and others in the affected areas. Authorities and rescue agencies are continuing efforts to assess the situation and establish the whereabouts of those reported missing.

Earlier in the day, Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who offered condolences over the loss of lives in the floods and expressed India’s readiness to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to Nepal. (IANS)