BIDUR, Nepal — Floodwaters swept through the Nepal-Tibet border region this week, causing devastating losses among pilgrims en route to the sacred Mount Kailash and nearby Lake Mansarovar. The catastrophic floods have resulted in missing persons and destroyed vehicles, including buses carrying Indian and Malaysian devotees.

Mount Kailash, revered in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, stands at 6,638 meters and is considered a spiritual epicenter for pilgrims worldwide. While climbing the mountain is prohibited, many followers undertake a 52-kilometer circumambulation around its base, a journey that typically takes three days and is regarded as both physically and spiritually cleansing.

This year, the pilgrimage saw a surge in participants, particularly Indian devotees led by the spiritual leader Sadhguru, whose Isha Foundation organizes annual “sacred walks” to the region. The foundation reported that 77 pilgrims were at the Nepal-China border office when floodwaters inundated the area. In a video message to his followers, Sadhguru expressed deep sorrow and concern over the incident, describing the event as “terrible and extraordinary” and confirming that the group was sheltering in the flooded building.

Among those affected is Lalama, a 27-year-old Nepali mother who was rescued with her infant son and husband from a school where they had taken refuge during a freezing night. She recounted seeing two buses carrying Indian pilgrims being swept away by the floods and said, "They are all gone."

The pilgrimage to Kailash and Lake Mansarovar is coordinated annually between India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Chinese authorities. Thousands of Indians, alongside pilgrims from other countries, travel this route seeking spiritual renewal and healing.

One affected family comes from Malaysia. Lodagarisny Raman, 26, said four relatives were among 17 Malaysian pilgrims traveling with a Nepalese tour operator. Her parents, aunt, and uncle had been preparing for months for what they viewed as a profoundly meaningful journey. The last communication from the group was just after dawn on Wednesday, with the tour agency reporting that its final contact occurred at 8:18 a.m. Nepal time as the pilgrims moved toward the Nepal-China border. The flood reportedly followed shortly afterward.

“My only hope is to hear back from them that they are safe,” Ms. Raman said, expressing anxiety as rescue efforts continue amid challenging conditions.

Rescue operations remain underway in the affected areas, where the floods have also swept away entire villages, compounding the difficulties for survivors and emergency personnel. The full extent of casualties and missing persons remains unclear as authorities and support teams work to reach isolated communities along the precarious Himalayan border.