85 Pilgrims From Tamil Nadu Untraceable After Nepal-China Border Flash Flood

At least 85 people from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, including nine pilgrims from Chennai, remain untraceable following a devastating flash flood that swept through the Nepal-China border on Wednesday.

The Chennai group had departed on August 14 for the Kailash Yatra, flying from Chennai to Kathmandu before travelling by bus toward the border. They were scheduled to complete immigration formalities on August 27, return to Nepal, and fly back to Chennai. According to a trip organiser who spoke to some pilgrims on Wednesday night, the group was waiting at an immigration centre on a riverbank when the floodwaters washed away buildings and people.

Among those missing from Chennai are Vikraman and his wife Manjula, residents of Ekkattuthangal. Their son, Praveen, said his parents last spoke to him on Monday night and were scheduled to return on Wednesday, but he has been unable to contact them since.

Across Tamil Nadu, missing persons include eight from Coimbatore and 11 from Namakkal, Salem, and Erode, including the elder brother of former Namakkal MP A K P Chinraj. In total, 37 of the missing travellers are aged 50 or above. Relatives have petitioned state and Union authorities to step up rescue and search operations.

Communication has been severely hampered due to the collapse of power and telecommunication networks across the affected terrain. A relative, Ramesh, noted that family members had been unable to reach the travellers since 8 p.m. on Wednesday and urged authorities to release information regarding those who registered with China immigration.

District Revenue Officer A V Surendhiran said administrative channels have been mobilized to track the stranded pilgrims, with details relayed to state headquarters coordinating with officials in New Delhi. The Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils is in active contact with local authorities in the region.