The daughters of a missing Texas couple are anxiously awaiting any news of their parents, who vanished amid catastrophic flash floods and landslides that have killed hundreds in the Nepal-Tibet border region. Deepak and Madhu Ahuja, of Texas, are among approximately 90 Americans still unaccounted for after the disaster struck on Wednesday.
The couple had been on a pilgrimage to the sacred Mount Kailash. Their daughters, Ashna and Shreya Ahuja, said they maintained regular contact with their parents until abruptly losing all communication. "We hope that they have been found and are at a hospital and are safe," Ashna Ahuja told CNN, as the family sought information from U.S. officials and individuals on the ground.
The sisters have gathered with relatives as they await news. "The latest honestly hasn't changed too much in the past two days," Ashna said. "We are still reaching out to both officials at the Beijing embassy, Kathmandu embassy, and speaking to people on the ground there to see what the efforts are looking like to rescue and save our parents, hopefully." They acknowledged receiving little "concrete information."
Shreya Ahuja last spoke with her parents hours before they were scheduled to head toward the border crossing on August 26. At that time, they had just completed their pilgrimage and were feeling proud. They also expressed feeling "very blessed" after meeting a spiritual leader. The couple was looking forward to returning home, telling their daughter they were heading towards the border with their tour group.
By Friday morning, authorities reported at least 472 deaths across Nepal and Tibet, with more than 1,500 people missing. Over 3,250 individuals were rescued by helicopter, and more than 150 injured survivors were transported to hospitals. In Tibet's Gyirong County, Chinese state media reported three deaths and 558 missing, including 260 foreign nationals.
The U.S. State Department confirmed that 90 Americans remained unaccounted for. While no American deaths had been officially confirmed, three U.S. citizens had been rescued. The Ahuja daughters, like many other families, are holding onto hope, especially given the severe disruption to connectivity across the devastated region.
The trip to Mount Kailash held particular significance for Deepak Ahuja, who had dreamed of completing the demanding trek around his 60th birthday. His wife, Madhu, initially expressed nervousness about the challenging pilgrimage but decided to accompany her husband to support his aspiration. A video recorded by Madhu shows Deepak meditating at Lake Manasarovar, near Mount Kailash, during what was intended to be the culmination of their journey.
Other American families are also anxiously awaiting news. New York couple Ramesh Sharma, 65, and Neelam Sharma, 64, are among those missing after also traveling for the Mount Kailash pilgrimage. Their daughter, Dr. Radhika Sharma, stated that this was their parents' first vacation alone since retiring last year. The family believes Ramesh and Neelam were near the border about an hour before the flooding occurred but has no further information.
The disaster unleashed massive quantities of water, ice, rock, and debris through the mountainous border region, destroying villages, roads, and bridges. Authorities are monitoring the situation for potential further flooding due to unstable debris and landslide dams in the affected areas.
On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. had offered assistance to Nepal. "We are sending aid and we've spoken to the leadership," Trump said. "And we let them know anything they want, we'll have."