A couple from San Francisco faced a life-threatening situation during severe flash flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border. The floods, triggered by a Himalayan glacier collapse, have resulted in at least 600 fatalities and over 3,000 missing persons.
“I knew I was going to die,” said Anjana Raja to CBS News, describing the fear she felt as torrents of water surged into the valleys below. The flooding occurred along the Trishuli River on the morning of Wednesday, August 26th, devastating numerous settlements in its path.
Nepali authorities reported a death toll of 676 between Nepal and Tibet, with nearly 3,000 individuals still unaccounted for, including approximately 90 Americans. Many missing persons were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, an important holy site for Hindus and Buddhists. Newsweek is seeking comments from the U.S. State Department about American citizens who remain missing.
Secondary Health Risks for Displaced People
Dan Hovey, Vice President of Global Emergency Response at Direct Relief, expressed concern about secondary health risks faced by displaced individuals. “Crowded temporary shelters, limited access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and disruptions to hygiene can increase the risk of diarrheal and other communicable diseases,” he stated. These conditions pose particular risks to young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with existing health conditions. The challenging terrain in Nepal, along with transportation and communication disruptions, further complicates efforts to reach affected areas and deliver necessary medical supplies.
“Four days after a disaster of this scale, the immediate priority remains treating people who have been injured and ensuring that medical teams have the supplies and resources they need to provide trauma and emergency care,” Hovey added.
Many Missing Were on Pilgrimage
Raja and her partner, Pattabiraman Venkatesan, were on a pilgrimage to Tibet when they encountered the floods. After stopping in Nepal’s Rasuwa District near the Nepal-China border, they witnessed a massive wave approaching. “I could see this monster thing coming down,” Venkatesan recounted to CBS, initially mistaking it for fire rather than water. Raja grabbed Venkatesan’s collar, urging him to “run” as they escaped to higher ground.
They witnessed homes being destroyed and people swept away by the floodwaters. “I saw death right in front of my eyes,” Raja remarked. A guide led them to safety, where they spent the night in a goat shed with other survivors. The following day, they were airlifted to safety. Remarkably, everyone on their tour bus survived. “The fact that we survived is nothing short of a miracle,” Venkatesan shared with CBS.
Americans Among the Missing
The unfolding story has prompted social media posts from families seeking information about missing Americans. Among those missing is Jitendra Patel, 72, from Long Island, New York. His son, Sunny Patel, last communicated with him shortly after crossing into Tibet, just 45 minutes before the flooding began. “For something like this to happen on that trip is almost unfathomable,” Sunny Patel stated to NewsNation.
Another missing person is Venus Rajnikant Patel, a 45-year-old U.S. citizen originally from India. Friends and family have not heard from him since he was caught in the floods. Jolene Gosha, a friend, expressed their devastation to the Associated Press, stating, “We’re just hoping, hoping that by some chance he was able to climb his way out of it.”
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal emphasized that locating the missing and providing urgent relief remains the priority. So far, 4,451 people have been rescued, including 187 foreign nationals. However, authorities caution about a newly formed, overflowing lake that could result in further flooding. Rescue teams and the public remain vigilant, ready to evacuate if conditions deteriorate.