The families of two Indian women are among those anxiously awaiting news following deadly flash floods that struck the border region between Nepal and Tibet. Hundreds of people remain missing.
Subhrasree Chakraborty was in a group of pilgrims preparing to cross into Tibet for a pilgrimage when the disaster occurred. She last communicated with her husband, who resides in India, on the morning of August 26. She reported that immigration formalities in Nepal were being completed and her group was waiting to proceed to Chinese immigration in Gyirong, Tibet.
"She kept saying the weather was good," her husband stated. "She said it was rather warm, it was raining sometimes." He added that she sent him a photograph showing her Nepal immigration clearance before she moved towards the Chinese immigration facility.
Communication with Chakraborty ceased around an hour after she informed her husband that the Nepal immigration process was complete. Her husband later saw media reports of the floods and was unable to reach his wife, other pilgrims in her group, or the tour operators and managers accompanying them.
It is believed that Chakraborty and others in her group may have been at or near the Chinese immigration building when the flash floods hit. Her family has received no confirmation regarding who successfully crossed the border or what happened to those who were in the vicinity of the disaster. "Have they been rescued? Was this group among those rescued in China?" her husband questioned, expressing the distress of those waiting for information. "We want to know more."
Nepal's disaster agency reported on August 27 that 823 people remained out of contact more than 24 hours after the flood tore through the region. The exact number of individuals affected and their status, including missing, dead, or rescued, remains unclear as authorities continue their assessment and recovery operations. The ongoing uncertainty has led to sleepless nights for families trying to obtain updates from Chinese authorities.
Subhrasree Chakraborty was reportedly in good spirits before communication was lost. Her husband described her as being eager for the pilgrimage, a journey that has now been overshadowed by the natural disaster and the ensuing uncertainty. The lack of confirmed information from the Chinese government about the status of the missing individuals exacerbates the anxiety for their families. "What do I tell you? Sleepless nights, working on the phone," one family member shared, reflecting the widespread concern.