A devastating flash flood triggered by a likely glacial collapse swept through the mountainous border region between Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, destroying infrastructure and leaving hundreds missing, including a number of Canadian pilgrims embarking on religious journeys.
The disaster struck early Wednesday morning near the Rasuwagadhi crossing on the Nepalese side and the Gyirong Port immigration post on the Tibetan side. Eyewitness accounts and local authorities reported that a massive wave of mud several storeys high tore through the area, demolishing buildings, washing away bridges, vehicles, and an immigration control facility, and cutting off communication and road access.
Rescue operations remain ongoing amid challenging conditions. Nepal Police confirmed that 389 bodies have been recovered so far, with expectations that the death toll will rise. Approximately 1,500 people are still unaccounted for, including at least 540 foreign nationals. Among those missing are multiple groups of Canadian pilgrims undertaking spiritual visits to sacred sites such as Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar.
The Canadian government has acknowledged that some Canadian citizens and permanent residents remain unaccounted for, though exact numbers are uncertain due to the difficult circumstances on the ground. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated that the number of missing Canadians may fluctuate as more information becomes available.
Two distinct Canadian groups have been identified among those missing. One group of around 10 Canadians was staying at the Hotel Kailash near Rasuwagadhi, organized through the adventure-travel company Himalayan Glacier. Somali Raturi, who had been organizing the trip with some members but canceled her own participation due to injury, said she last heard from her friends Himanshu Agarwal of Oakville, Ontario, and Poonam Dilipkumar Thakkar, a Canadian citizen from Chicago, shortly before the flooding. The group was preparing for breakfast at the hotel when the disaster struck and has not been in contact since.
The second group included at least 12 Canadian pilgrims traveling with the India-based Isha Foundation. They were at the immigration-control building at Gyirong Port on the Tibet-Nepal border when the flood destroyed the facility. The spiritual leader of the foundation, Jaggi Vasudev (also known as Sadhguru), expressed concern in a video message posted on social media, noting that the entire building and part of the adjacent town were washed away and that no official confirmation regarding the pilgrims’ status has been received. Sadhguru indicated that attempts to reach the area by phone or road have been unsuccessful due to the loss of telecommunications and blocked routes.
Among the missing with the Isha Foundation group are Toronto residents Samira and Anil Grover, both active in their faith and long-time followers of Sadhguru. Their daughter described the trip as a significant personal and spiritual journey for them, made all the more poignant by the current uncertainty.
The floods have deeply affected Nepali diaspora communities abroad, including organizations like the Nepal Cultural Society of British Columbia, which has mobilized fundraising efforts. The disaster has evoked memories of the 2015 earthquake, a catastrophic event that caused widespread devastation in the region.
Authorities continue to survey the damage and conduct search and rescue missions, but poor communication and access difficulties complicate efforts to establish a full accounting of those affected. The situation remains fluid as relief operations proceed in the challenging terrain.