Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on Wednesday, 26 August confirmed he is personally overseeing rescue operations in the Gyirong area of Tibet after 77 pilgrims from his Isha Foundation went missing following devastating flash floods near the China-Nepal border. The pilgrims, returning from Kailash Mansarovar, were at an immigration centre when the floods struck, according to Sadhguru.

What Happened at Gyirong

A catastrophic flash flood inundated the town of Gyirong in Tibet, submerging the immigration office building and much of the surrounding area. The 77 missing pilgrims were inside that immigration centre when the disaster unfolded. Three Isha Foundation volunteers stationed in Timure, Nepal are also unaccounted for.

Sadhguru posted on X: 'A terrible and tragic flash flood has taken place at Gyirong in Tibet - China, and one of our Kailash groups was caught in it. While on their way back, they were at the immigration office when the flood occurred and the building and much of the town seems to have been flooded.'

Status of the Full Isha Kailash Group

Of the 21 groups that formed the Isha Foundation's Kailash Mansarovar sojourn, Sadhguru provided the following breakdown: 495 pilgrims have returned safely; 743 remain in Tibet; 148 are currently in Nepal; and 77 were at the immigration centre at the time of the flood. He noted that 'there has been no official information on the whereabouts of any of those who were at the immigration office.'

Rescue Efforts Under Way

Sadhguru stated that volunteers and support teams are 'doing our utmost to assist in the rescue' and that the foundation is working with local authorities to reach the site. 'We stand ready to be part of the rescue efforts, regardless of the risk involved,' he said. He added that he is personally in the region 'to ensure the best can be done in the given circumstances.'

In a message to affected families, Sadhguru 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.'

India's Response and Broader Impact

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his Nepali counterpart Balendra Shah, conveying condolences over the loss of lives and affirming India's readiness to extend all possible humanitarian assistance to Nepal. The flash floods, triggered by the swelling of the Bhote Koshi River, have hit Nepal's Rasuwa district hard — with several people feared dead and hundreds still missing across the region.

This comes amid the broader monsoon crisis in the Himalayas, where high-altitude border zones between China and Nepal remain particularly vulnerable to sudden glacial and rainfall-triggered flooding. As rescue teams race against time, the fate of the 77 Isha Foundation pilgrims remains unknown.