Published Aug 27, 2026 | 3:47 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 27, 2026 | 4:04 PM
CCTV footage captures the moments before the Rasuwagadhi border point on the Nepal–Tibet border was swept away by the force of the floods.
Synopsis: The Ministry of External Affairs said 21 Indian pilgrims from Tamil Nadu have been rescued after flash floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, but 288 Indian nationals are still uncontactable. Separately, a group of 80 pilgrims associated with the Isha Foundation is also missing. India is coordinating with authorities in Nepal and Tibet to trace those stranded on both sides of the border and has sent 47.5 tonnes of emergency relief supplies to Nepal.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, 27 August, said 288 Indian nationals remained uncontactable after flash floods struck Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Wednesday. Separately, the Isha Foundation said a large group of pilgrims associated with it, comprising Indian and foreign nationals, was also missing.
A preliminary agency-wise record compiled by Nepal’s tourism board identified 644 travellers, including 127 Nepali nationals, as missing from the flood-affected area in Rasuwa as of noon on 27 August. Of the 644 travellers listed as missing, Indians formed the largest group, followed by 127 Nepali nationals.
Of the 288 Indians who remained uncontactable, 73 were working on the Trishuli I Power Project. Separately, two groups of 37 and 49 people from Tamil Nadu had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Samrat and Fly Everest Travels, respectively, according to the MEA.
Briefing by Official Spokesperson on Nepal
https://t.co/avBA097jZz— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 27, 2026
Another group of 32 Indians from West Bengal had travelled with the help of Samrat Travels and were in Timure in Rasuwa district. Another group of 61 Indians from different States had travelled through Richa Tours, while a further group comprised 33 people from Kerala.
As of 1 pm on Thursday, 21 Indian nationals from Tamil Nadu who had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra had been rescued, the MEA said.
Those rescued are:
The rescued were expected to reach Kathmandu, after which arrangements would be made for their return home, the Ministry said. The ministry said it was trying to establish contact with those stranded or missing, but disrupted communication lines in the affected area had made efforts difficult.
The Ministry said it had also received information about a large group associated with the Isha Foundation that remained uncontactable.
“We are making every effort to reach out to our people through the Nepalese authorities,” Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said at a press briefing on Thursday afternoon.
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The founder of the Isha Foundation, Jaggi Vasudev, better known as “Sadhguru”, said in a statement that one of the Foundation’s groups, the “S3 group”, had been in the area during the disaster.
The group comprised 80 people — 34 men and 46 women — including 22 from the United States, 12 from Canada, 11 from Australia, nine from the United Kingdom, four from Germany, three each from France and Nepal, two each from the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and Spain, and one each from Finland, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia and South Africa.
He said three volunteers and a doctor were also camped in nearby hotels.
“Morning I left to go there personally and all phones are off, all telecommunications are down, roads are blocked, we are unable to go there,” Vasudev said.
He said the group leader, Ishanga Praveen, had sent a message at 9.05 am saying that the group had arrived at immigration. Vasudev said the disaster struck at 9.14 am and that Praveen’s Nepal phone did not become active, as it should have if he had crossed over.
“So, literally the entire group was there in the building,” he said.
— Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) August 27, 2026
Vasudev said there was no official confirmation about the group’s status. “The same building where we were for the immigration just a week ago, that entire building is washed away and part of the town is washed away,” he said.
He said the Isha Foundation had informed the embassies in India and Nepal of the countries represented in the group and sent messages to the families after nearly 12 hours of waiting.
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The Ministry of External Affairs said approximately 200 Indian nationals had sought assistance for evacuation from the Tibetan side of the border. Of them, 95 were in Darchen and proceeding towards Hilsa to cross into Nepal. Four were in Jilong City, 13 were in Zutulpuk and travelling towards Saga, while another 70 were also heading towards Saga.
The Indian Embassy in Beijing was in touch with local authorities to facilitate their evacuation, the Ministry said. It added that some people could also be missing on the Tibetan side and that efforts were under way to locate them.
Indian nationals stranded in the vicinity following the flash flood in the border areas of the Tibet Autonomous Region could seek assistance from Chinese officials on the ground at 0086 139 8999 0012, the Indian Embassy in Beijing at 0086 185 1428 4905, which could also be contacted through WhatsApp, or the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu at +977 985 131 6807 and +977 970 910 7500, both of which could also be contacted through WhatsApp.
India also sent two aircraft carrying a total of 47.5 tonnes of emergency relief supplies to Nepal.
A C-130J aircraft that left on Wednesday night carried 10 tonnes of relief material, including temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, medicines and other supplies. A C-17 aircraft that departed on Thursday morning carried 37.5 tonnes of supplies, including 28.5 tonnes of relief material, eight tonnes of medicines and one tonne of food items.
Further assistance was being considered, and Bailey bridges were being mobilised for rescue and relief work, the Ministry said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India’s humanitarian assistance and medical supplies had reached Kathmandu.
“Urgent efforts are underway to ascertain the status and well-being of all Indians in the flood-affected areas. MEA is coordinating with various Ministries, State Governments, tour operators and project authorities in this regard. We are working closely with the Nepali side, both on this aspect and on the relief efforts,” he said.
The Ministry has set up a round-the-clock control room, while the Indian embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing have also opened 24-hour helplines. The government said it was coordinating with the State governments from which pilgrims had travelled and with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
