U.S. officials reported Thursday that approximately 90 American citizens remain unaccounted for following catastrophic flash floods that struck a border area between China and Nepal, resulting in hundreds of fatalities. The U.S. State Department confirmed it is not aware of any American deaths but stated that three U.S. citizens have been rescued.
The floods occurred in a region frequented by pilgrims visiting Mount Kailash, a sacred site for multiple religions. Social media on Thursday saw posts from individuals seeking information about missing loved ones, including a woman from Virginia traveling with a tour group, a couple from Texas on a birthday trip, and a mother and her teenage daughter.
Among those unaccounted for is Venus Rajnikant Patel, a 45-year-old U.S. citizen originally from India, who was on a pilgrimage. His brother, Dennis, shared that Patel had called shortly before the floods, expressing excitement about crossing into Tibet from Nepal. Patel's friend, Jolene Gosha, described him as an avid traveler and a person with a vibrant personality.
Another missing American is 72-year-old Jitendra Patel, a Long Island resident who was part of a tour group heading to Mount Kailash. His son, Sunny Patel, stated that his father had last communicated via WhatsApp on Wednesday morning, local time, after crossing the border into Tibet. Sunny Patel expressed deep concern after seeing videos of the flooding and realizing his father was in the affected area.
The spiritual organization Isha Foundation, based in India with a U.S. campus in Tennessee, reported that 77 individuals associated with its Mount Kailash pilgrimage groups were at an immigration center in Gyirong, Tibet, when the floods hit. Leslie Crespi, a community liaison for the foundation's U.S. campus, said 22 Americans affiliated with the foundation were among those present, along with three supporting volunteers.
Crespi noted that communication was lost shortly after the group confirmed their arrival at the immigration center, just minutes before the flash flood occurred. She described the trekkers as being like family and emphasized that the pilgrimage is often a lifelong dream for participants.
President Donald Trump stated Thursday that U.S. officials have been in contact with Nepalese leaders and have offered assistance. He indicated that between 50 and 60 Americans were believed to be in the area, but acknowledged that a complete accounting was still pending.