Families of American citizens missing in the devastating flash floods along the Nepal-China border are anxiously awaiting any information as the number of unaccounted for climbs. The U.S. State Department confirmed that approximately 90 Americans are among the more than 2,000 people missing following the disaster.
One tour group, Himalayan Glacier Adventure and Travel Company, based in Baltimore, reported that all 47 of its guests and guides are missing. This group included individuals with U.S. citizenship, some of whom held dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship. The company confirmed its members were in the affected region when the flash floods struck on Wednesday.
Rescuers have been working to pull survivors from the mud and debris, but for many families in the United States, the lack of information is agonizing. Mukti Patel, whose father, sister, and two other relatives are missing, expressed the difficulty of not knowing their fate. Her father, Umesh Kumar, 56, and sister, Akanksha Patel, 32, along with Akanksha's husband Ishan, 32, were part of the Himalayan Glacier excursion. Ishan’s mother, Shilpa, 59, also remains missing. Ishan and Shilpa Patel hold dual Canadian and U.S. citizenship, while Umesh Kumar and Akanksha Patel are Canadian citizens, according to Mukti Patel.
Patel's family was on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet when the floods hit. She last spoke to her family on Wednesday morning, wishing Ishan a happy birthday. Later that day, their hotel was reportedly swept away by the torrents.
Another U.S. citizen, Jiwan Jyoti, 50, from Lexington, Massachusetts, was also traveling with the same tour group. Her friend, Manmeet Singh Meet, stated that Jyoti called from breakfast on Wednesday morning, just before the flash floods. Her last known location was at the hotel that was subsequently destroyed.
Vaasavi Unnava, a PhD student from Woodland, California, is trying to ascertain the whereabouts of her parents, Hanumantha Rao Unnava and Vasundhara Unnava. The couple, who had previously been affiliated with the University of California, Davis, were on a retirement trip and were excited to visit family in India after their pilgrimage. Unnava said her parents were not initially a major concern until she learned of the flood's severity and discovered a text message she sent them had not been delivered.
Amidst the ongoing rescue efforts, families like Patel's are calling for increased international assistance to aid in search and recovery operations. The full extent of the devastation and the number of casualties are still being assessed as the region grapples with the aftermath of the catastrophic flooding.