Published Aug 28, 2026 | 1:06 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 28, 2026 | 1:11 PM
Sadhguru said contact has been lost with Praveen and the entire group which appeared to have been at the immigration building when the flood struck.
Synopsis: At least 80 people linked to Isha Sacred Walks remain unaccounted for after a sudden flash flood struck near the Nepal-Tibet border, with no prior warnings reported. The group included pilgrims from 19 countries, while Isha is coordinating with authorities and embassies to locate them and support rescue efforts.
At least 80 people associated with the Isha Foundation remain unaccounted for after a flash flood struck near the Nepal-Tibet border, according to the latest update from Maa Gambhiri, coordinator of the Isha Sacred Walks pilgrim programme.
The 80 include 77 pilgrims who were at an immigration point on the Nepal side when the flood struck and three Isha volunteers stationed in a nearby village, which was reportedly washed away.
According to Maa Gambhiri, there had been no warnings of the disaster. The weather was clear, with no sirens, alerts or travel advisories issued before the incident.
“There were absolutely no signs or warnings that anything like this was about to happen,” she said.
She said the team leader had been contacted about 10 minutes before the incident and there was no indication of danger. The group may have had only 20 to 30 seconds to react, she said.
Isha Foundation founder Jaggi Vasudev (Sadhguru), in an update issued on August 26, said the group leader, Ishanga Praveen, sent a message at 9.05am saying the group had arrived at the immigration point. The flash flood struck at around 9.14am.
Praveen has been associated with Isha for more than two decades.
Sadhguru said contact has been lost with Praveen and the entire group which appeared to have been at the immigration building when the flood struck. The building was reportedly washed away, along with a substantial part of the town.
The same building had been used by Isha participants for immigration about a week earlier.
The affected group included participants from 19 countries: 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.
The group comprised 34 men and 46 women.
Many of the participants were of Indian origin but were travelling primarily on foreign identity documents.
Isha said it had not received official confirmation about the fate of the missing participants.
Sadhguru said telecommunications in the affected area were down and roads were blocked, preventing the organisation from reaching the site.
He said he had attempted to travel to the area but was unable to reach it. The army has since taken control of the affected site and is not allowing others to enter, according to Maa Gambhiri.
Isha has approached the Indian and Chinese embassies, while the US embassy is also assisting efforts to obtain permission for Sadhguru and volunteers to reach the site.
The organisation said it informed the embassies of the countries whose nationals were in the affected group within an hour of learning about the disaster.
Also Read: Nepal flash floods: 21 Indians rescued, 288 still missing alongside 80-member Isha Foundation group
Maa Gambhiri said Isha has 21 groups participating in the pilgrimage. Of these, 495 people had completed the yatra and returned home.
Another 743 participants remain in Tibet at different stages of the pilgrimage, while 148 are in Kathmandu waiting to begin the journey.
Those in Tibet are continuing their yatras while Isha waits for information on which border exit will be opened for their return. The organisation will assess the safety of travel before deciding how to proceed with the participants in Kathmandu.
More than 24 hours after the disaster, families were still waiting for information about their loved ones.
“We are still hoping there may be survivors,” Maa Gambhiri said, adding that Isha was making every effort to support the authorities in rescue operations and, if possible, assist with identification and relief work.
Sadhguru also said several Nepali guides associated with the pilgrimage had their families in the affected area, though the number affected was not known.
Isha said its immediate priority was to locate the missing participants and volunteers and obtain official information on their status.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
