Two weeks after flash floods struck the Nepal-Tibet border, 77 participants of the Kailash Manasarovar Sojourn and three Isha Foundation volunteers remain unaccounted for, according to an update issued by Isha Foundation on September 12, 2026. The foundation said the figure is unchanged from its previous update and that identification work at the site remains ongoing, with authorities indicating that the process could take considerable time given the conditions.
Isha said its priority is supporting affected families through verified information, government and embassy coordination, ground-level assistance and practical support. Access to Gyirong Port on the Chinese side and the affected area on the Nepali side remains restricted by authorities, while around 25 Nepali volunteers continue coordinating with police, hospitals, mortuaries, government offices and search-and-rescue agencies.
Coordination With Authorities
Isha Foundation said it remains in regular contact with Chinese, Indian and Nepali authorities, as well as relevant embassies of 19 countries across India, Nepal and China, to obtain information about those affected and understand official procedures. The organisation said identification details, photographs and other relevant information have been shared with authorities and search-and-rescue teams where appropriate.
It has also been in contact with the US State Department and Global Affairs Canada, whose assistance in seeking updates from the Chinese government has been described as helpful. According to Isha, authorities have indicated that identification work at the site is continuing and may take considerable time. The foundation said it would communicate verified information to families first and would only make information public where it is legal, ethical and appropriate. It also said it would not publicise names, photographs or personal information of affected individuals in order to protect their privacy.
Volunteers On Ground
Around 25 Nepali Isha volunteers have been deployed to support the response, with their knowledge of local languages helping them coordinate with hospitals, mortuaries, police, government offices and other local authorities. The team has approached Nepal Police and Nepal Tourist Police, shared the full list of affected individuals and available documentation, and established regular points of contact.
Through its wider volunteer network, Isha said information about the missing individuals has also been shared with the Nepali Army and the search-and-rescue side to widen the effort. Following the disaster, volunteers personally visited hospitals and mortuaries to gather available information and understand identification procedures, and also visited a DNA centre to understand the requirements.
The foundation said the identification process differs between countries and is therefore being coordinated through respective consular services. Meanwhile, access to Gyirong Port on the Chinese side remains restricted for forensic and rescue purposes, while access on the Nepali side is also restricted.
Isha volunteers stationed in Gyirong Town were asked to leave after Chinese authorities required all non-official personnel to vacate the area. The foundation added that international media were granted access on Day 12, but their reports had not provided new facts.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
For families waiting for news about their loved ones, uncertainty can be as painful as the disaster itself. Isha Foundation’s update highlights the importance of verified communication, cooperation between governments and embassies, and sustained support from volunteers while official search, rescue and identification processes continue. At the same time, the decision to protect the identities and personal information of affected families is important, particularly when facts are still emerging and access to the affected site remains restricted.
The foundation has also said its volunteers are responding around the clock to emails and calls through its hotline in eight countries, with an endeavour to respond to queries within 24 hours, while helping families with practical matters such as arranging the shipment of belongings left in Kathmandu.
We hope authorities, rescue teams, diplomatic missions, organisations and communities continue working together with patience, compassion and transparency, keeping affected families at the centre of every decision. What more can governments and communities do to ensure families facing such uncertainty receive timely, verified information and compassionate support?
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An update from Maa Gambhiri (Coordinator of Isha Sacred Walks) about the current situation after the flash floods at the Nepal-Tibet border, and what Isha Volunteers are doing to offer every possible assistance. pic.twitter.com/N55JxDt0Dw
— Isha Foundation (@ishafoundation) September 12, 2026
