Global Concern Grows as 77 Isha Foundation Pilgrims Remain Missing Following Catastrophic Nepal-Tibet Floods

KATHMANDU — The whereabouts of 77 international pilgrims affiliated with the Isha Foundation remain unknown two days after a devastating flash flood struck near the China-Nepal border, leaving families across the globe in a state of desperate uncertainty.

The group, comprised of individuals from 19 different nationalities, lost contact with their organization during a pilgrimage to the sacred site of Kailash Mansarovar. The pilgrims were reportedly situated at the immigration office in Gyirong, Tibet, when the disaster hit, inundating the town and its infrastructure.

Maa Gambhiri, a coordinator for the group, confirmed on Friday that there has been no progress in locating the missing individuals despite ongoing rescue efforts. “There has been no update on the 77 missing Isha Foundation pilgrims for the last two days. The rescue teams are on the ground but there is still no information yet,” she stated. “There are 77 families waiting desperately for answers. It is an emotional turmoil for them.”

A Multinational Crisis

The demographic makeup of the missing group highlights the international scale of the tragedy. Among the 77 pilgrims are 22 US citizens, 12 Canadians, 11 Australians, and nine individuals from the UK. The group also includes citizens from Germany, France, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, and South Africa.

Sadhguru, the founder of the Isha Foundation, addressed the situation on his official Facebook page earlier this week. He noted that the group was in the process of returning to Nepal when the floodwaters struck. He further revealed that three foundation volunteers remain trapped in Timure, Nepal.

Frantic Diplomatic Efforts

In an attempt to bypass the silence from the disaster zone, the Isha Foundation has been working around the clock to coordinate with international authorities. According to Maa Gambhiri, the organization has contacted embassies across India, China, and Nepal, as well as various ministerial offices, seeking urgent intervention.

Gambhiri also shared that Sadhguru had personally sought approval to travel to Gyirong—the epicenter of the disaster—to assist with relief operations, though he has not yet received the necessary authorization from authorities.

Unprecedented Devastation

The flash flood is part of a larger, catastrophic weather event that has decimated the region. According to local police reports, the natural disaster has resulted in at least 579 confirmed fatalities, with nearly a thousand people still reported missing.

As the search for the Isha Foundation pilgrims continues, the international community remains on high alert, hoping for a breakthrough in what has become a harrowing race against time in the rugged border terrain of the Himalayas.

This is a developing story.