At least 34 Australians are reported missing following catastrophic flash flooding in the Mount Kailash region of Nepal, according to multiple sources. Among those unaccounted for are members of three separate tour groups operated by US-based Himalayan Glacier Adventures, Kailash Journeys, and the Isha Foundation. The disaster has left families and friends anxiously awaiting information amid a communication blackout.
Among the missing are two well-known Sydney families, the Muralitharans and the Iyers, who had been preparing for the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash — a site of significant spiritual importance. The Muralitharan family, which includes parents Chandrasekaran and Shylaja and their two young sons, Ashwin and Aarush, had trained locally in the weeks leading up to their trip. Their neighbors described them as deeply spiritual and engaged members of Sydney’s Hindu community. Efforts to contact the family have so far yielded no response.
The Iyer family, consisting of Sreedharan and Lakshmi and their two sons, Rishab and Rudhra, are also among those unaccounted for. The family, active and well-regarded in the Cherrybrook area, had been part of the Himalayan Glacier Adventures tour group. Rishab, 24, was nearing the completion of medical studies at the University of Newcastle and was expected to get engaged next year. The family had not made contact since Tuesday afternoon, adding to concerns about their whereabouts.
A family friend, cardiologist Dr. Venkatachalam of Bella Vista, confirmed he had not received formal information from Australian consular officials. He explained that the family had initially intended to join the pilgrimage, but circumstances kept them from traveling. Dr. Venkatachalam described ongoing efforts to determine the families’ locations and to gather updates from contacts on the ground in Nepal.
In addition to these two families, other Australians remain missing from the affected tour groups. Himalayan Glacier Adventures identified several individuals, including Venkatraman Balakrishnan, Chitra Venkataraman, and Rajeswari Sharma, among others. Kailash Journeys also confirmed six missing Australian clients. An additional group of 11 Australians traveling with the Isha Foundation have been reported missing, though names have not been released.
Local sources near Sydney described the situation as deeply distressing, with community members providing support to the affected families. Neighbors and friends expressed fears not only for the safety of those missing but also for the potential emotional toll on any survivors, particularly on young children.
The region experienced severe flash flooding on Wednesday, which reportedly devastated several border towns where some tourists were staying. Reports suggest that hotels and accommodations were damaged or destroyed, although exact details remain unclear.
Australian officials have yet to release formal statements regarding rescue or recovery efforts. Families and friends remain hopeful for contact and are urging authorities for swift action as the search continues.