Bengaluru, September 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Seventy-seven participants of a Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage and three volunteers remain unaccounted for nearly two weeks after flash floods struck the Nepal-Tibet border, the Isha Foundation said on Saturday.
In its latest update, the foundation said the number of people unaccounted for remained unchanged from its previous statement. Authorities have indicated that identification work at the disaster site is still underway and could take considerable time given the conditions.
The foundation said its priority was to support affected families and provide verified information as soon as it becomes available. It remains in regular contact with Chinese, Indian and Nepali authorities, as well as the relevant embassies of 19 countries in India, Nepal and China.
Teams are using official channels to seek information about affected individuals, understand procedures and ensure government and consular updates reach families. Identification details, photographs and other relevant information have been shared with authorities and search-and-rescue teams wherever appropriate.
Isha volunteers have also contacted agencies including the US State Department and Global Affairs Canada to seek updates from the Chinese government. Information about procedures conveyed by Chinese authorities to families of one nationality has been shared with other governments to help them seek similar information for their nationals.
The foundation said any information suitable for public release would first be communicated to affected families and made public only when legally, ethically and appropriately possible. It also said it would protect the privacy and anonymity of affected families and volunteers and would not publicly release their names, photographs or personal information.
Access to Gyirong Port on the Chinese side remains restricted by Chinese authorities for forensic and rescue operations, while access on the Nepal side is also restricted by Nepali authorities. No private individuals or organisations have been permitted near the disaster site, the foundation said.
Isha volunteers stationed in Gyirong Town to monitor relief operations were later asked by Chinese authorities to leave along with other non-official personnel.
In Nepal, around 25 Nepali volunteers have been deployed for ground coordination. Their knowledge of the local language has helped them coordinate with hospitals, mortuaries, police, government offices and other authorities.
The volunteers have approached the Nepal Police and Nepal Tourist Police, shared the complete list of affected individuals and available documentation, and established official points of contact. Through its network, the foundation has also established contact with the Nepali Army and shared information about the missing people with search-and-rescue personnel.
Following the disaster, when there was initially no centralised information system, volunteers personally visited hospitals and mortuaries to collect available information and understand identification procedures. They have continued checking these facilities regularly and also visited a DNA centre to understand the identification process and requirements.
The foundation said DNA identification procedures differ between countries and are therefore being coordinated through respective consular services. Information and procedures received from embassies and authorities are being shared with affected families, particularly emergency contacts.
The foundation said international media were granted access on the 12th day after the disaster, but reports so far had not brought any new facts.
A dedicated volunteer team is handling emails and calls through a hotline operating across eight countries, with the foundation saying it would endeavour to respond to queries within 24 hours.
The foundation is also helping families with practical arrangements, including coordinating with the Nepal tour operator and DHL to ship belongings left behind by participants in Kathmandu.
It expressed gratitude to emergency workers, Nepali, Chinese and Indian embassies, diplomats, government authorities, police, search-and-rescue teams and forensic teams involved in the ongoing operation.
The Isha Foundation said it would continue following up with local authorities and emergency services and share relevant information with affected families as soon as it becomes available.
FOLLOW NOW
