At least 37 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu remained unaccounted for on Wednesday night after a flash flood tore through the Nepal-Tibet border corridor used by Kailash Manasarovar travelers. The flood surged from the Tibetan side into the Bhotekoshi River around 9 am, hitting Nepal’s Rasuwa region. At least 46 people died, and nearly 500 were reported missing, including 105 Indian tourists and 37 non-resident Indians; at least 59 Indians were identified as Kailash pilgrims.
Current Situation
By late Wednesday, the status of the Tamil Nadu groups remained unclear, with government sources estimating the number of those unaccounted for at between 37 and nearly 50. Tour coordinator Thennarasu informed the state government monitoring cell that four groups totaling 106 people from Tamil Nadu had traveled through four agencies. Fifty-seven left through a Kumbakonam operator on August 23 and 49 from Chennai. Two groups were confirmed safe, while the other two could not be reached.
The Kumbakonam contingent comprised 36 women and 21 men from various locations, including Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Hosur, Soolagiri, and Namakkal. According to the office of Thanjavur Collector R Revathi, 20 people, including 11 women, had been accounted for.
““We do not know what is happening with the rest for now. We are awaiting more information,” she stated.
One group of 17 sent an audio message confirming their safety, while government sources noted that the pilgrims were in three buses, with an unverified report indicating that one bus had plunged into a gorge.
Response Efforts
The 57-person group was traveling from Kathmandu through Syabrubesi toward the Rasuwagadhi-Gyirong border crossing. The state’s Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils opened 24-hour helplines for assistance. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu provided contact numbers: +977 985 131 6807 and +977 970 910 7500.
