Several Indian pilgrims and travellers, including Kailash Mansarovar yatra participants, have gone missing after a devastating flash flood struck the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal on 26 August 2025. The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Dehradun confirmed it has received multiple distress calls from families and is coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, according to a report compiled on 28 August.

Key Developments

The SEOC helpline was flooded with calls from relatives of pilgrims who lost contact following the river surge. Among the missing, according to the compiled report, are individuals holding residency in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as well as residents of Mumbai, Haridwar, and Gurgaon.

This comes amid the active Kailash Mansarovar yatra season, during which thousands of devotees travel through Nepal and Tibet. The Bhotekoshi — a fast-flowing river that drains the high Himalayas — is historically prone to flash floods during the monsoon, making the route particularly hazardous in August.

Who Is Missing

Panchal Dhami from Gharsula reported that his sister, Meena Gupta, a US citizen associated with the Gyirong Immigration Centre or Usha Foundation in Nepal, has been unreachable since the flood. Rahul Purohit of Mumbai stated that his two friends, Jignesh Merchant and Tejal Merchant, both US residents, had been travelling toward Kailash Mansarovar via the Lhasa-Tibet route and remain untraceable.

Ankit Sharma from Haridwar informed the helpline that two relatives of his manager's maternal uncle — Ramraman and N.R.S. Raman, residents of Mumbai travelling through a Nepal-based tour operator — have not been reachable. Ravi Ranjan from Gharsula reported that Meena Kulkarni of Mumbai went missing near the Temur border in Nepal.

Nidhi Sharma from Gurgaon stated that her friend's husband, Pankaj Nath, an IAS officer residing in London, is missing in the flood-affected area. Separately, information relayed through the Director General of Police, Uttarakhand, indicates that Mohit Kodiyal, a Canada resident on the Kailash Mansarovar yatra via the Nepal route, is also untraceable.

Government Response and Coordination

The SEOC has forwarded all compiled details to the Ministry of Home Affairs and is maintaining continuous contact with central authorities. Copies of the report have been dispatched to senior officials in the Uttarakhand government, district administrations, police, and relevant central agencies for further action and coordination with Nepalese authorities.

Efforts are reportedly underway to locate the missing individuals and provide assistance to their families, though no confirmed rescue updates had been issued as of the time of reporting.

What Happens Next

Central agencies are expected to coordinate with Nepalese authorities to ascertain the status of the missing pilgrims. Given that several of those unaccounted for hold foreign residency or citizenship, consular channels may also be activated. Families have been advised to remain in contact with the SEOC helpline as the search operation continues.