Nepal floods: 17 Kannadigas untraced, Karnataka CM Shivakumar in contact with survivor
Synopsis
Two buses carrying tourists vanished in Nepal's floods just 10 minutes ahead of survivor Mallinath's vehicle — a detail that captures the razor-thin margin between life and death in one of the worst disasters to hit Nepal this season. With 17 Kannadigas still untraced, Karnataka CM Shivakumar is running a diplomatic and logistical operation across state and national channels, constrained by the hard reality that India cannot act unilaterally on foreign soil.
Key Takeaways
17 people from Karnataka remain untraced in flood- and landslide-hit Nepal as of 27 August .
Shivakumar is coordinating rescue efforts through Karnataka Bhavan, New Delhi and is in contact with Union Ministers.
Survivor Mallinath of Kalaburagi district spoke to the CM by phone from Kathmandu , describing a near-miss escape.
Two buses that were 10 minutes ahead of Mallinath's vehicle are reported missing; all passengers on those buses were reportedly from West Bengal .
The state government confirmed it must work through central and diplomatic channels, as it cannot operate independently in a foreign country.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, 27 August said at least 17 people from Karnataka remain untraced in flood- and landslide-hit Nepal, even as the state government intensified round-the-clock efforts to locate stranded residents. Shivakumar made the disclosure while speaking to reporters in New Delhi, where he is coordinating the state's response through Karnataka Bhavan.
Scale of the Crisis
'We are tracing people... many are not tracked. 17 persons' information we need to get; it is not available,' Shivakumar told reporters. He noted that while the locations of some Kannadigas had been confirmed, the whereabouts of many others remained unknown. 'Their details will be released soon. A few are in touch and are speaking to their families,' he added.
The Chief Minister stressed that the state government was working '24x7' and that coordination was being maintained from both Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi and the state capital Bengaluru. He also confirmed that his office was in regular contact with Union Ministers to facilitate diplomatic channels.
Rescue Coordination and Diplomatic Constraints
Shivakumar acknowledged the limitations of operating in a foreign country, stating that Karnataka could not act unilaterally. 'We will work in coordination. We will unitedly take up the work of bringing them back to the state,' he said. The government is working through central authorities and diplomatic channels to trace the unaccounted and arrange safe repatriation.
CM Speaks to Flood Survivor Mallinath
In a notable development, Shivakumar spoke by phone with Mallinath, a resident of Kalaburagi district who survived the floods and is currently sheltering in Kathmandu. Mallinath described his ordeal as beyond words. 'Sir, you can't imagine. If we have survived and come back, we can't explain it in words. Two buses that were ahead of us by 10 minutes are missing,' he told the Chief Minister.
When asked whether any Kannadigas were on the two missing buses, Mallinath said all the tourists aboard were from West Bengal. He also confirmed he had not encountered any other Karnataka residents during his three-day stay in Kathmandu. Shivakumar advised him to remain safe and avoid hasty decisions, to which Mallinath agreed.
A Moment Beyond Politics
The phone conversation briefly touched on political differences, with Mallinath acknowledging he supported a different political party while expressing admiration for Shivakumar's approach. The Chief Minister responded that political affiliations aside, all Kannadigas stood together as one. The exchange underscored the human dimension of a crisis that has cut across party lines.
The Karnataka government is expected to release further details of the untraced individuals soon, as rescue and repatriation efforts continue in coordination with the Centre and Indian diplomatic missions in Nepal.
Point of View
But the real bottleneck is consular capacity: India's missions in Nepal are stretched across a disaster zone affecting thousands from multiple states. The detail about two missing buses carrying West Bengal tourists is a reminder that this crisis has a national footprint, not just a Karnataka one, and a coordinated multi-state response mechanism is conspicuously absent.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Kannadigas are missing in the Nepal floods?
As of 27 August, at least 17 people from Karnataka remain untraced in flood- and landslide-affected Nepal, according to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The state government said it is working around the clock to locate them.
What is the Karnataka government doing to help stranded residents in Nepal?
The Karnataka government is coordinating rescue and evacuation efforts through Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi and from Bengaluru, while remaining in contact with Union Ministers and working through diplomatic channels. CM Shivakumar confirmed the state cannot act independently on foreign soil and must coordinate with central authorities.
Who is Mallinath and what happened to him in Nepal?
Mallinath is a resident of Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, who survived the Nepal floods and is currently in Kathmandu. He told CM Shivakumar that two buses travelling just 10 minutes ahead of his vehicle went missing in the disaster. He has been sheltering in Kathmandu for three days.
Were any Kannadigas on the two missing buses in Nepal?
According to survivor Mallinath, all tourists on the two missing buses were from West Bengal, not Karnataka. He confirmed this during his phone conversation with CM Shivakumar.
When will the Karnataka government release details of the untraced individuals?
CM Shivakumar indicated that specific details of the untraced persons would be released soon, as the government continues to gather information. He noted that some of those unaccounted for are already in contact with their families.
