9 Thane, Navi Mumbai Pilgrims Missing After Nepal Flash Floods

Nine pilgrims from Thane district and Navi Mumbai who were undertaking the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra have remained uncontactable following flash floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa and Bhotekoshi region on August 26.

The Thane district administration has released a list of the nine missing pilgrims, which includes Rekha Satish Patankar, Satish Vinayak Patankar, Aparna Samir Joshi, Samir Mukund Joshi, Sunil Sudarshan Subhedar, Sanjay Rajmal Patil, Nalini Sanjay Patil, Rajanish Raghunath Natu, and Yashas Bhand.

The list records their last known locations, contact details, and travel information. The district administration has clarified that contact with the tourists has not been established, while officials remain in touch with their family members.

There is no confirmation of their deaths, and their present physical locations remain unknown. The Patankar couple, who were travelling with a 27-member group, were last contacted on Tuesday night.

A member of the group had reportedly informed relatives on the morning of August 26 at around 8:27 am that they had reached the Chinese immigration point. The Naupada couple, Aparna Samir Joshi and Samir Mukund Joshi, were last contacted at around 7 am on August 26, when they were reportedly near the Nepal-China border.

Communication was lost after the flash floods. Sunil Sudarshan Subhedar, a 68-year-old resident of Dombivli, was travelling for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra through an Andheri-based tour operator.

He was last contacted at around 8:28 am at the Nepal-China immigration office. His son Swanand Subhedar has appealed to the authorities to establish contact with his father and ensure his safe return.

The Kalyan couple, Sanjay Rajmal Patil and Nalini Sanjay Patil, were last seen leaving Kathmandu on the morning of August 25. Their planned itinerary was Kathmandu–Timure–Rasuwagadhi/China border–Kerung/Gyirong, with an overnight stay at Timure on August 25.

The official document states that their travel group comprised 31 pilgrims and that the couple’s present location, including whether they are safe or not, is unknown.

The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra is a popular pilgrimage route for Hindus, which takes them through Nepal and China to the sacred Mount Kailash.

The flash floods in Nepal have caused widespread destruction and disruption, with many pilgrims and tourists stranded in the affected areas.

The Indian government has issued advisories and is working with the Nepalese authorities to evacuate stranded citizens.

The families of the missing pilgrims are anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones, and the authorities are working to establish contact with them.

The incident has highlighted the risks and challenges associated with travelling to remote and disaster-prone areas, and the need for proper planning, preparation, and emergency response measures.

As the search for the missing pilgrims continues, the authorities and the families are hoping for a safe and speedy reunion.

The incident has also raised concerns about the safety and security of Indian citizens travelling abroad, particularly in areas prone to natural disasters.

The government and the travel industry are expected to take steps to improve safety protocols and emergency response measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

For now, the families of the missing pilgrims can only wait and hope for the best, as the authorities work to locate their loved ones and bring them home safely.