At least 80 people from an Isha Foundation Kailash pilgrimage group are unaccounted for after a flash flood struck Gyirong in Tibet, China, while they were at the immigration centre on their return journey. Sadhguru said there was no official information on their whereabouts and that volunteers and support teams were doing their utmost to assist the rescue.
He said he was personally in the region and that the group was ready to reach the location and participate in rescue efforts “regardless of the risk involved”. Of the 21 groups in the sojourn, 495 people have returned safely, while 743 remain in Tibet, 148 are in Nepal and three volunteers are in Timure, Nepal.
80 Await Rescue Updates
According to Sadhguru, the flood inundated the immigration office and much of the surrounding town, leaving those who were there unaccounted for. “All of us, including the volunteers and support teams are deeply anguished and are doing our utmost to assist in the rescue,” he said.
He added that they were working with the authorities to see whether they could reach the affected location and were “ready to be part of the rescue efforts, regardless of the risk involved”. Sadhguru also said he was personally in the region to ensure that the best possible assistance could be provided in the circumstances.
In a recent appeal Sadhguru and the families of the missing people have asked the authorities to allow him and a small group of volunteers to travel from Saga to Gyirong. He said they wanted to stand with the rescue teams, look for signs that could help locate the missing people and support their families, while making clear that they would not hamper the ongoing rescue operations. The appeal comes after Sadhguru said he had received no further information about the 80 people from the group following the floods.
Sadhguru's Appeal to the Authorities & Administration. pic.twitter.com/wKu89gtdnU
— Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) August 27, 2026
Pilgrims Scattered Across Region
The 21 groups participating in the Kailash sojourn are currently spread across Tibet and Nepal. According to the figures shared by Sadhguru, 495 people have already returned safely, while 743 people remain in Tibet and 148 are in Nepal. Another 77 people were at the immigration centre when the flash flood occurred, while three volunteers are in Timure, Nepal.
There has been no official information on the whereabouts of those at the immigration centre so far. Sadhguru said the organisation was working with authorities and support teams to assist with the rescue and extend help to those affected.
Flash Flood Ravages Nepal
The disaster also devastated Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Wednesday, August 26, after a sudden surge of water from the Tibet side entered the Bhotekoshi River and swept through border settlements including Timure and Syabrubesi. The flood damaged homes, markets, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure, while the torrent also affected areas further downstream along the Trishuli River.
Early reports suggested an earthquake and landslide may have triggered the surge, but subsequent analysis by the US Geological Survey attributed the seismic activity to a large landslide, with reports indicating that a collapse of ice and rock in the Himalayan region sent a massive volume of water and debris downstream. Rescue operations have been hampered by damaged infrastructure, disrupted communications and difficult terrain, with hundreds of people still reported missing across the affected region.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The situation is a stark reminder of how quickly natural disasters can place lives at risk and leave families waiting desperately for information. At a time of uncertainty, the priority must be the safe recovery of those missing, transparent communication and every possible effort to support affected people.
The willingness expressed by Sadhguru and his teams to assist rescue operations, even amid risks, underscores the importance of cooperation during a crisis. How can authorities, organisations and communities work together more effectively to ensure faster rescue and support when disasters strike?
A terrible and tragic flash flood has taken place at Gyirong in Tibet – China, and one of our Kailash groups was caught in it. While on their way back, they were at the immigration office when the flood occurred and the building and much of the town seems to have been flooded.… pic.twitter.com/CqOBxsPlWo
— Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) August 26, 2026
Also Read: Nepal Flood Crisis: India Sends 10 Tonnes of Aid as Rescue Teams Search for Hundreds
— Sadhguru (@SadhguruJV) August 27, 2026
