As many as 17 people from Karnataka, including Infosys Public Services CEO Lax Gopisetty, remained untraceable in Nepal as of Saturday, 29 August, following devastating floods and landslides that have severely disrupted communication and transportation networks across the country. The Karnataka government was expected to release details of the missing persons later in the day, even as the locations of some individuals had been established while others remained unaccounted for.

Chief Minister's Round-the-Clock Response

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar confirmed that the state government was making continuous efforts to trace Kannadigas stranded or unaccounted for in Nepal. 'We are tracing people... many are not tracked. Information about 17 persons needs to be obtained; it is not available,' Shivakumar said. He added that while some travellers had been located and were in contact with their families, specific details of several others were still unavailable. 'We are working 24x7. Their details will be released soon. A few are in touch and are speaking to their families,' he said.

Infosys CEO Among the Missing

Lax Gopisetty, who heads Infosys Public Services — a subsidiary of Infosys that provides technology and consulting services to public-sector organisations in the United States and Canada — had travelled to Nepal on a personal trip. Following the onset of floods, contact with him could not be established, prompting concern over his safety. Infosys confirmed it had been unable to reach Gopisetty and said the company was 'concerned about his safety and well-being.' The IT major has not disclosed when or where he was last contacted.

Infosys Coordinating With Authorities

Infosys said it was in touch with relevant authorities and agencies in Nepal and was actively working to gather information about Gopisetty's whereabouts. The company also confirmed it was maintaining continuous communication with his family and providing all necessary assistance. No further details about his last known location have been made public.

Scale of the Nepal Disaster

The crisis comes amid severe flooding and landslides across Nepal that have disrupted transportation and communication in multiple regions. Rescue and relief agencies have been conducting operations in the affected areas, with authorities continuing efforts to locate those stranded or unaccounted for. The scale of disruption has made it particularly difficult to establish contact with travellers in remote or affected zones. This is not the first time Indian tourists have been caught in Nepal's monsoon-season disasters — the Himalayan nation is among the most flood-prone in South Asia, with annual fatalities running into the hundreds.

What Happens Next

The Karnataka government is expected to release a consolidated list of missing persons along with status updates as rescue operations progress. Families of the untraced individuals are being kept informed, according to official statements. The situation remains fluid as Nepal's disaster response agencies work to restore access to cut-off areas.