Nearly 400 pilgrims heading for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet, China, are out of contact in Rasuwagadhi after an early morning flash flood swept through villages along the Nepal-China border and
damaged settlements, while also resulting in casualties.
Nepal has been hit by a massive flood that was caused by a sudden swell in the Bhote Koshi River around 9 AM in the Rasuwa district. At present, authorities are providing relief to the affected residents, as well as intensifying search operations to locate the missing.
According to Bashu Kumar Adhikari, managing director of Kathmandu-based Touch Kailash Travels & Tours, 390 pilgrims –– including 93 Nepalis –– were scheduled to cross the border on Wednesday, August 26.
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“Except for a few, we have not been able to establish contact with the pilgrims as of 3 PM,” he said.
The pilgrims are clients of various travel agencies. Samrat Tours and Travels has 71 clients, Leaf Holidays 55, Kathmandu Holidays 17, Kailash Journey 31, Explore Vacation 7, Trekkers Society 92, Richa Tours 12, Fishtail Tour and Travels 27, Himalayan Glacier 62 and Alpine Eco Trek 16.
Sagar Pandey, president of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal, stated that efforts were underway to establish contact with the missing pilgrims and assess their condition.
Nepal Floods
At least 19 people have been killed in Nepal after the floods tore through the border region with Tibet, a police spokesman told AFP.
The massive floods in Nepal were triggered after a sudden surge of water from the Tibetan side entered the Bhote Koshi River around 9 AM in the Rasuwa district, wreaking havoc in the Timure and Syapru Besi areas.
“Nineteen bodies have been recovered so far. We are intensely coordinating the rescue and relief efforts. Many in our police force are also out of contact,” spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle said.
Amid the flooding, Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah –– also known as Balen Shah –– chaired a key meeting with the Council of Ministers and instructed authorities to intensify search and rescue operations in the affected regions.
PM Modi Speaks To Balen Shah
In the wake of the floods in Nepal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Nepalese counterpart and affirmed that India is ready to offer humanitarian aid to Kathmandu.
In a post on ‘X’, PM Modi wrote: “Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives due to the floods in Nepal. The people of India stand in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time.”
Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives due to the floods in Nepal. The people of India stand in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time.
India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 26, 2026
PM Modi said India is ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Nepal. “Our teams are coordinating closely on rescue and relief efforts”, he added.
