Nepal Floods: 77 Isha Foundation Members Missing, Actress Manasi Parekh Escapes Danger
The devastating floods along the Nepal-Tibet border have triggered a major humanitarian crisis, with 77 pilgrims associated with the Isha Foundation's Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage reported unreachable after a flash flood struck the Gyirong area. At the same time, Gujarati actress Manasi Parekh, who was also undertaking the pilgrimage, has confirmed that she is safe in Tibet.
77 Isha Foundation Pilgrims Unreachable
According to the Isha Foundation, the group of 77 pilgrims was returning from the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra when the flash flood struck near an immigration facility at Gyirong. The group included 53 people of Indian origin and travellers from 19 countries, according to the foundation.
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev expressed deep concern over the situation and said the group was at the immigration office when the flood hit. The building and much of the surrounding area were reportedly inundated, making it extremely difficult to establish contact with those who were there.
The foundation said rescue and search efforts were underway in coordination with authorities. Sadhguru has also expressed his willingness to reach the affected area and assist with rescue operations if permission is granted.
The Isha Foundation provided a broader update on its pilgrimage groups, saying 495 pilgrims had already returned safely, 743 remained in Tibet, 148 were in Nepal, while 77 were at the affected immigration facility when the disaster occurred.
Actress Manasi Parekh Safe in Tibet
Amid the uncertainty, actress Manasi Parekh has escaped danger and confirmed that she is safe in Tibet. Parekh was also part of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage but had already crossed the affected Gyirong area before the flood struck.
In an update, Parekh said that she and other pilgrims were safe and that the Isha Foundation was working to bring them home. She also urged people to pray for those who remain missing and for everyone affected by the catastrophe.
Massive Flood Disaster
The flash floods have caused extensive destruction across the Himalayan region, washing away buildings, roads and bridges and leaving large numbers of people missing. The disaster has particularly affected pilgrims and tourists travelling through the Nepal-Tibet border region.
The Associated Press reported that more than 1,300 people were missing across Nepal and Tibet, while hundreds of people had died in the disaster. Rescue teams are continuing search operations despite damaged infrastructure and difficult terrain.
The tragedy has also raised concerns among families in India and other countries whose relatives were travelling on pilgrimage. Authorities and tour operators are working to establish contact with missing people and identify those who have reached safety.
For now, the focus remains on locating the 77 Isha Foundation pilgrims and others who remain unaccounted for, while rescue agencies continue operations in one of the worst Himalayan flood disasters in recent years.
