At least 23 people linked to Gujarat were listed as missing or uncontactable in the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) and district emergency centre records as of 28 August, following devastating flash floods near Nepal's border with Tibet. Several of those unaccounted for were travelling on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route through Kerung when the disaster struck.

The list, updated as of 12:54 pm on Friday, includes not only residents of Gujarat but also Indian-origin citizens of the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, as well as Indians based overseas. One person initially reported uncontactable — Roma Intwala of Valsad — has since been confirmed safe in Nepal, with the Valsad Mamlatdar formally informed of her safety.

Key Cases Among the Missing

Kinnari Patel and Mihir Patel, both residents of Ahmedabad, travelled on 23 August with Richa Tours Pvt Ltd for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Kerung. Their last recorded contact was at 4:51 am on 26 August, and both remain untraceable. Ashok Kapadi, also from Ahmedabad, was travelling with Samrat Tours and Travels and was last contacted at around 8:30 am on 26 August, reportedly just as he was nearing the China border immigration centre.

From Anand, Bimalkumar Patel and Jaimina Patel — both US citizens of Indian origin — travelled on 16 August through Namaste Nepal Trekking and Research Hub and have not been located. Paresh Patel and Jyoti Patel, US residents linked to Surat, were travelling with Hills and Trills Tour, Mumbai, and were last contacted at around 8:10 am on 26 August.

Umesh Patel, Akansha Patel, and Ishan Patel, all linked to Kheda, were travelling from Delhi to Nepal by air. No contact has been established with them after 25 August. Umesh and Akansha hold Canadian citizenship, while Ishan is an American citizen. Shilpa Patel, also linked to Kheda and residing in Dhramaj in Anand district, flew from Delhi to Nepal on 26 August and is similarly uncontactable.

Bhavinkumar Raval of Gandhinagar, an Australian citizen, was travelling with Kailash Journeys via Kyirong. His last contact was recorded at around 5 am on 27 August. Three other Gandhinagar-linked individuals — Amita Amin, Tejal Patel, and Jitendra Patel, all US citizens travelling through Nepal Trekking Planner — were last known to be in the Bagmati area near the Friendship Bridge.

The list further includes Jay Kotecha of Rajkot; Minaxi Ramani, linked to Surat and understood to reside in Mumbai; Dinesh Patel, an Amreli native and US citizen reported missing by a contact in Ahmedabad; and Bina Parikh, an Ahmedabad resident with an overseas address in Queens, New York, who travelled on 21 August with Trekking Planner Travel Agency and has had no contact since 24 August. Poonam Thakkar, who holds both US and Canadian citizenship and travelled on 25 August with Himalayan Glacier, is also listed as uncontactable.

From Anand, Padma Patel and Jagdish Patel, both linked to Jalundh in Khambhat taluka, were also reported missing. Jagdish had travelled on 22 August with Himalayan Glacier Adventure and Travel Company. A separate case concerns Chauhan Babulal, also known as Gomtibapu, from Jafrabad in Amreli, who reportedly left for Ayodhya on 10 August and was due to travel to Nepal with a group. His phone has reportedly been unreachable since 11 August.

The Disaster and Its Impact on the Route

The flash floods struck Rasuwa district near the Nepal-China border on Wednesday, with the Rasuwagadhi crossing and surrounding areas among the worst affected. The Kailash Mansarovar overland route runs from Kathmandu through Rasuwa and Timure before crossing into Tibet through the Gyirong (Kerung) border — a corridor heavily used by private pilgrimage operators during the yatra season.

The floods swept away roads, bridges, and infrastructure along the route, cutting off large numbers of travellers from communication. The scale of the disruption has made it difficult for families and authorities to establish contact with those on the ground.

Government Response

The Indian government has been monitoring the situation through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. The Centre said there was no need for panic and that reports of missing Indian tourists are being followed up by the MEA and the embassy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed his condolences over the loss of lives in the floods.

What Happens Next

Gujarat's SEOC continues to update its records as families report cases and authorities work to establish contact. The situation on the ground in Rasuwa remains fluid, with infrastructure damage hampering both rescue operations and communication. Families of those listed as missing have been advised to stay in touch with district emergency centres for the latest updates.