Families Await Word on Missing Pilgrims in Nepal Floods

Hyderabad:Families of tourists and pilgrims caught in the devastating floods in Nepal continue desperate efforts to establish contact with their loved ones while rescue operations remain underway along the Nepal‑Tibet border.

Several people of Indian origin, who are citizens or permanent residents of countries such as the US, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany, had travelled to the region for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra through private tour operators. Many families have little information as communication links were disrupted by the floods.

Among those still unaccounted for are 44‑year‑old Kandimalla Suhasini Reddy, a New Zealand citizen from Hyderabad, and 49‑year‑old Vandana Chand, a US citizen originally from Hyderabad. Suhasini was travelling with a private Kailash Journeys group, while Vandana was part of the Isha Foundation pilgrimage contingent of 79 members.

Koduri Chandrashekar, president of the Telangana Association of New Zealand, said, “Suhasini was a permanent resident of New Zealand and has been working as a software engineer here. She informed her family that she would be going to the immigration centre the next morning, but has not been in contact ever since. We are offering any assistance we can provide to her family.”

Another couple reported missing is 67‑year‑old Hanumantha Rao Unnava and his 63‑year‑old wife Vasundhara Unnava. Hanumantha Rao is a former Dean and Professor at the University of California, Davis Graduate School of Management. Their family said their last known location was Hotel Kailash at Taimure, near the Rasuwagadhi border.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 121 tourists have been rescued, while 622 remain unaccounted for. Of those rescued, 85 were Indians, leaving families anxiously awaiting confirmation about their loved ones.

The Telangana government has been coordinating efforts to trace people from the state and Telangana‑origin NRIs. Officials from Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi said 23 people were initially identified for follow‑up, including 17 NRIs. After one person was confirmed safe, efforts continued to trace the remaining 22.