Get you up to speed: First picture of British tour group who crossed Nepal border and haven’t been heard from since | News World
At least 33 British tourists are unaccounted for following flash floods triggered by a glacier collapse along the Bhote Koshi river in Nepal, where 350 people have died. The group was making a pilgrimage to the sacred alpine lake of Gosainkunda when they lost contact with their families after crossing the border.
The Nepal Centre for Disaster Management reported that only helicopters can access the disaster site due to extensive damage to infrastructure, including destroyed bridges and nearly 25 miles of damaged roads. Rescue teams, supported by the international Hare Krishna community, are coordinating efforts to locate the missing group, which includes 33 British nationals and multiple South Africans and Irish citizens.
The spiritual community of ISKCON Nepal has issued an urgent appeal for assistance to locate a group of 17 missing pilgrims, primarily from the UK, Ireland, and South Africa, amidst concerns for their safety due to severed communication. Rescue efforts face significant challenges, as Nepalese officials report extensive infrastructure damage, with only helicopters able to access the disaster area for search operations.
What remains unclear — The exact whereabouts and condition of the group of 17 international devotees following their crossing into Nepal are still unknown.
Last photograph of British tour group missing after crossing into Nepal
The group crossed the border in Nepal but have not been heard from since (Picture: Supplied)
Pictured smiling and laughing in front of their bus this is the last known picture of a group of British, Irish and South African worshippers before they crossed into Nepal and disaster struck.
At least 33 British tourists aren’t accounted for, and 350 people have been killed after a glacier collapse set off flash floods along the Bhote Koshi river. More bodies are being pulled from the deluge by the hour.
Two teenagers, a 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy still missing as the total number of missing people in Nepal rose from 403 to 826.
Sarisha Pillay, sister-in-law of South African couple Vivagnathan and Janet Pillay, told WTX they were desperate for any information on their group heading to the sacred alpine lake of Gosainkunda.
She said: ‘Their children are worried sick here in South Africa. We all are. They have four daughters. They were a part of the Alpine Eco Trek & Expedition group.
‘According to their daughters they passed the border post at 8.30am. We are desperately trying to get some clarity with regards to where they were last seen.’
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Vivagnathan and Janet Pillay still haven’t got in touch with family (Picture: Supplied)
Names of the missing from Hare Krishna pilgrimage
Anitha Devi Maharaj
Surendranath Maharaj
Kavita Haldia
Pavan Haldia
Nabhi Nandan Das
Sunanda Manirajan
Hema Sunil Amin
Janet Pillay
Vivagnathan Pillay
Surabhi Manmath Padhy
Santosh Sahu
Syna Kumari Sahu
Spandan Sahu
Hemangini Patel
Bipin Patel
Mala Patel
Veena Bhaskaran
Hare Krishna group Dandavats announced they were still trying to trace the group.
They said: ‘The spiritual community of ISKCON Nepal has issued an urgent public and official appeal after losing contact with a group of 17 international devotees currently on a pilgrimage trip to the sacred alpine lake of Gosainkunda.
‘The missing pilgrims originate from three countries: the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Ireland.
‘Due to the remote mountain terrain and a lack of cellular connectivity in the region, all direct communication with the group has been severed, raising deep concern among family members, local authorities, and the global Hare Krishna community.’
The organisation requested swift assistance from government officials and rescue teams: ‘We humbly request the concerned authorities to kindly help locate and ensure their safety.’
Located within the Langtang National Park at a a height 14,100 feet, the Gosainkunda trekking route is renowned for its spiritual importance but poses significant logistical challenges, including unpredictable weather and isolated communication zones.
A man from Uckfield, East Sussex, said he is flying to Nepal at 8pm on Thursday to try to make contact with his wife, mother, brother and uncle who have been caught up in the flash flooding.
Speaking to the BBC, Pramod Poudel said: ‘There is no proper communication so I can’t communicate with them.
‘I guess there is no power so they can’t charge their phones – so be honest, it’s a very hard and difficult time at the moment.’
In an emotional interview, Mr Poudel added: ‘I have seen pictures of where my home town used to be… and there is nothing there now.
‘Where my family used to live – my mum, my dad, my wife, where everyone used to live – there’s nothing there.’
The president of the Nepal Centre for Disaster Management described the scene as being like a ‘tsunami from the sky’ and that villages have been ‘completely wiped out’.
Bishal Nath Upreti said the damage to the infrastructure has been so extensive only helicopters can be used to reach the site of the disaster.
Nepalese officials said bridges have been destroyed and nearly 25 miles of roads have been damaged, which has complicated search efforts.
A number of those missing had been making a pilgrimage to the sacred Hindu site of Mount Kailash, Nepalese tour operator The Trekkers’ Society said.
The operator said nine British nationals on one of its tours to the site were among those unaccounted for – four males, aged 14, 50, 50, and 54, and five females, aged 40, 46, 50, 50, and 53.
General manager Roshan Basnet told the Press Association: ‘When the flood happened, they were still at the Chinese immigration (at) the border. After the flood happened, we had no contact with our tour guide.’
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