Nepal floods: 11 Gujarat travellers missing on Kailash Mansarovar route, one confirmed safe
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Eleven people linked to Gujarat have been reported missing or uncontactable following devastating flash floods in Nepal, with most cases involving pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route through Kerung, according to details released by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) and district emergency centres on Thursday, 27 August. One person from Valsad, initially listed as uncontactable, has since been confirmed safe in Nepal.
Who Is Missing and Where
The list of missing or uncontactable individuals spans multiple Gujarat districts. Ahmedabad accounts for three cases: Kinnari Patel and Mihir Patel, travelling with Richa Tours Pvt Ltd on the Kailash Mansarovar route via Kerung, last made contact with family on Wednesday morning; a third Ahmedabad resident, Ashokbhai Kapadi, was last reached at around 8:30 am on Wednesday.
From Anand, Bimalkumar Patel and Jaiminaben Patel — both listed as US citizens of Indian origin — were reported uncontactable while undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar yatra with Namaste Nepal Trekking and Research Hub. The SEOC also flagged Jay Kotecha of Rajkot (reportedly based in Mumbai), who was travelling along the Friendship Bridge–Bhote Koshi River corridor near the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung border.
Three people linked to Surat — Pareshbhai Patel, Jyotiben Patel, and Minaxiben Ramani — have been uncontactable for over 24 hours. Pareshbhai and Jyotiben reside in the US, while Minaxiben is based in Mumbai. The remaining cases include Dineshbhai Patel, an American citizen originally from Amreli, and Bhavinkumar Raval, an Australian citizen from Mahesana, who was travelling with a group of 26 people and last made contact on Wednesday morning.
The Nepal Flood Situation
The flash floods were triggered by a glacial or ice-related collapse upstream of the Bhote Koshi river system, severely damaging roads, bridges, and infrastructure along the Nepal–Tibet border and complicating ongoing rescue operations. The floods swept through Rasuwa and neighbouring districts, prompting a large-scale search and rescue response by Nepal authorities.
Nepal government figures cited on Thursday morning placed the death toll at 165, with 826 people still unaccounted for — including 579 tourists. Later reports put the toll considerably higher, with Nepal Police reporting 270 deaths as more bodies were recovered from the affected areas.
Gujarat Government Response
Gujarat authorities have directed affected citizens and their families to use designated state and district emergency helplines to report or obtain information about travellers whose whereabouts remain unconfirmed. The SEOC is coordinating with district emergency centres across the state to track all outstanding cases.
Notably, Roma Intwala of Valsad — initially listed as missing — was confirmed safe after the district administration received information from Nepal. Her case underscores that not all uncontactable travellers are necessarily in danger, though the scale of infrastructure damage continues to hamper communication along the affected corridors.
What Happens Next
With Nepal Police revising the death toll upward and hundreds of tourists still unaccounted for, the situation remains fluid. Rescue teams are working to restore access to cut-off areas along the Bhote Koshi corridor, where several of the Gujarat-linked travellers were last known to be. Families have been urged to stay in contact with official helplines rather than rely on unverified information.