Actress Manasi Parekh, currently in China as part of Sadhguru's Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, has disclosed that she was scheduled to be at the flash flood-hit Gyirong Port in Tibet on Thursday morning — just hours after a catastrophic flood devastated the border crossing on Wednesday, 27 August. The actor confirmed she was safe and appealed for prayers for those affected by the disaster.

What Manasi Parekh Said

In a post on her social media account, Parekh shared footage of the flooding at Gyirong Port, writing: 'This is what happened We were sup to be here tomorrow morning.' A second post showed a video of herself being welcomed at the same location days earlier, with the message: 'I was literally welcomed at this spot 5 days ago. So warmly! And now the whole place is submerged.'

In a detailed follow-up, she wrote: 'Life is uncertain but what has happened is absolutely heartbreaking. We are constantly praying for the people affected by this tragedy. By God's Grace we are safe in China and Isha Foundation is doing its best to get us back home as well as find those who are in the midst of the floods. Pls keep praying for everyone's well being @sadhguru.'

Scale of the Disaster

The flash floods struck areas along the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday, unleashing widespread destruction across Nepal's Rasuwa district and the adjoining Gyirong region of Tibet. Homes, roads, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure were severely damaged. Gyirong Port — a critical border crossing between Nepal and Tibet — was hit, severing road, communications, and power links.

Initial reports suggested a 4.4-magnitude earthquake may have triggered the disaster. However, a separate study indicates that an ice-rock avalanche or landslide may have blocked the Lhende River, creating a temporary dam before a surge of water and debris was released downstream. The exact sequence of events is still under investigation.

India's Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah, conveying condolences over the loss of lives and reaffirming that India stood in solidarity with the people of Nepal. He assured all possible humanitarian assistance, with Indian teams coordinating with Nepalese authorities on rescue and relief operations. India has also begun dispatching humanitarian aid to Nepal. Former Union Minister Smriti Irani also took to social media to express anguish over the tragedy and concern for those affected.

Pilgrims and the Isha Foundation

The Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage group, travelling under Sadhguru's Isha Foundation, was among those in the region at the time of the disaster. The Foundation confirmed it was working to facilitate the safe return of pilgrims and to locate those who may be caught in the affected zones. This incident underscores the vulnerability of high-altitude pilgrimage routes to sudden natural disasters, particularly during the monsoon season.

As rescue operations continue, the full human and infrastructural toll of the Gyirong floods is yet to be established.