77 Kailash Pilgrims Unaccounted For After Flash Flood Hits Tibet Border Town

A sudden flash flood in Tibet’s Gyirong region has triggered concern over the safety of 77 pilgrims travelling as part of a Kailash pilgrimage group led by spiritual leader Sadhguru. The pilgrims were reportedly inside an immigration centre when floodwaters swept through the border town on Wednesday, leaving their whereabouts unconfirmed.

According to Sadhguru, the group was returning from the Kailash pilgrimage and had stopped at the immigration facility in Gyirong when the disaster struck. Floodwater reportedly entered the building and affected a large portion of the surrounding town, making access to the area difficult for rescue teams.

Sadhguru said there had been no official confirmation about the condition or location of the 77 people who were at the immigration centre. His organisation's volunteers and support teams were working with authorities to determine what had happened and to assist in rescue efforts.

The incident occurred amid severe flooding and landslides affecting areas around the Nepal-Tibet border. The disaster has disrupted transport and communications in the region, adding to the difficulties faced by emergency teams attempting to reach affected locations.

Pilgrimage groups spread across the region

Sadhguru provided a broader update on people travelling as part of 21 groups associated with the Kailash pilgrimage. He said 495 people had already returned safely. Another 743 pilgrims were in Tibet, while 148 were in Nepal. In addition, 77 people were at the immigration centre in Gyirong and three volunteers were in Timure on the Nepal side.

The figures highlight the scale of the pilgrimage operation and the challenges involved in accounting for everyone during a rapidly developing natural disaster.

The uncertainty surrounding the 77 pilgrims has heightened anxiety among their families and fellow travellers. With the border area affected by flooding, landslides and damaged infrastructure, establishing communication with those at the immigration facility has become an immediate priority.

Border infrastructure hit by disaster

The Gyirong area is an important crossing point between Tibet and Nepal. Reports indicated that roads leading to the border crossing on the Chinese side were disrupted, while communication and electricity services were also affected.

China's state news agency Xinhua reported that a mudslide struck the area around the border crossing, with casualties and missing people reported. Search-and-rescue operations were launched as authorities attempted to assess the extent of the damage.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for extensive efforts to locate missing people and directed authorities to strengthen monitoring and early-warning measures in order to reduce the risk from further disasters.

The difficult terrain of the Himalayan region has complicated rescue operations, with damaged roads and unstable conditions potentially slowing access to affected areas.

Nepal also facing widespread destruction

The disaster extended beyond the border into Nepal's mountainous Rasuwa district. Areas including Syapru Besi and Timure were among those severely affected by flooding.

Officials reported that villages and infrastructure sites had been damaged or swept away. Authorities warned communities living close to the Bhote Koshi River to remain alert and move to safer ground if conditions deteriorated.

Nepal deployed police, military personnel and rescue teams to affected locations as authorities worked to locate missing people and provide emergency assistance.

The flooding has also affected travellers and pilgrims from several countries, making the incident an international rescue concern. With hundreds of people reported out of contact across the wider disaster zone, authorities on both sides of the border face a complex search operation.

Sadhguru says teams are ready to help

Sadhguru said he was personally in the region and that his volunteers and support personnel were attempting to assist those affected. He also indicated that his teams were prepared to participate in rescue operations despite the risks involved.

For now, the most pressing concern remains the 77 pilgrims who were inside the Gyirong immigration centre when the flash flood struck. Until rescue teams are able to reach the location and establish contact, their condition remains unknown.

The situation continues to develop, with authorities assessing damage, restoring access routes and coordinating search-and-rescue operations across the Nepal-Tibet border. Families and fellow pilgrims are awaiting official information on the missing group as emergency teams work through challenging conditions.

The situation is developing, and details regarding the safety and whereabouts of the 77 pilgrims may change as rescue operations progress.