Hundreds of people, including tens of international Hindu pilgrims belonging to the Isha Foundation, remain unaccounted for after a catastrophic glacial collapse triggered a massive flash flood at the Nepal-Tibet border.
​Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev stated on Thursday, August 27, 2026, that an entire contingent of devotees returning from the sacred Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage was caught directly in the path of the deluge.
​The disaster struck on Wednesday morning, August 26, when floodwaters, mud, and heavy debris inundated the border immigration facility at Gyirong (Tibet-China) and swept down into the Rasuwa district along the Bhote Kosi River in Nepal.
​The missing group, designated internally as the S3 Group, comprises 80 individuals, including 77 pilgrims and three volunteers, who were undergoing border formalities when the surge hit.
According to details released by Sadhguru, the missing pilgrims hail from several countries across the globe: United States: 22, Canada 12, Australia 11 and 9 people from United Kingdom.
Pilgrims from France, Germany, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, and eight other countries. 46 women and 34 men, accompanied by a medical doctor and three volunteers.
​Sadhguru shared surveillance footage showing a towering wave of mud and water violently crashing into the border complex. Local infrastructure, roads, and telecommunication networks have been completely destroyed, severely impeding immediate search efforts.
​”With a profound sense of pain and regret, I wish to bring to your notice that there has been a terrible flash flood between the Tibet and Nepal border… Looking at the scale of destruction, it looks bad.” said Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.
​Sadhguru, speaking via an online video message from the region, added that his foundation is prepared to join search and rescue efforts despite the treacherous conditions.
He noted that while 495 pilgrims from other Isha groups have returned safely, over 700 remain in Tibet and nearly 150 in Nepal awaiting safe transit. Unofficial regional reports suggest total missing persons across both sides of the border could reach hundreds, with overall fatalities feared to be far higher.
​Spokespersons for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Nepal Tourism Board confirmed that state authorities are in active contact with local administration and diplomatic channels in China to coordinate emergency relief operations, clear blocked roadways, and re-establish emergency communication lines.
