Chennai
oi-Prakash KL
Several families in Tamil Nadu are eagerly waiting for the safe return of their loved ones from flood-ravaged Nepal.
Nepal has been hit by devastating flash floods along the country’s border with Tibet, killing at least 165 people and leaving a trail of destruction.
Devastating flash floods in Nepal, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche, have killed at least 165 people. Of 57 tourists from Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, 20 are confirmed safe while 37 remain stranded, causing concern for their families awaiting information.
The disaster struck on Tuesday morning when an ice-rock avalanche located 20 kilometres northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border point in Tibet triggered a debris flow into the Lhende River. The floodwaters surged downstream through Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Chitwan, Tanahun and Nawalparasi, carrying mud and boulders that swept away settlements and infrastructure along the riverbanks.
Fifty-seven people from Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district travelled to Nepal on a trip organised by a travel agency, ANI reported. While 37 people remain stranded, 20 are said to be safe.
Speaking to the news agency, Vijayalakshmi, a relative of the tourists, said, “My daughter and son-in-law have travelled to Nepal, and they are currently stranded in the floods. We are praying to God for their safe return.”
“Yesterday, photos of my daughter and son-in-law were shown on television as being among those who are safe. However, when we came here and enquired about them, we were told that there was no information about their current status,” she added.
Trichy, Tamil Nadu: Muthunathan’s wife, Sivaranjani, from Trichy, travelled to Nepal with friends and relatives. Following a sudden flash flood in Nepal’s Bhote Koshi River, 384 tourists remain unaccounted for, including 105 Indians. Ten tourists from Trichy were reportedly among… pic.twitter.com/9ANLUyEJY7
— IANS (@ians_india) August 27, 2026
Vijayalakshmi has urged the Tamil Nadu government to take measures to ensure the safe return of the travellers.
Kumbakonam Tahsildar Poongodi said, “Fifty-seven people travelled from here. Of them, 20 are safe, while there is no information yet about the remaining people. The District Collector is continuously monitoring the situation and is in contact with the concerned authorities through the External Affairs Department.”
Another relative, Renuka Devi, told ANI that her friend had gone to Kailash and later reached Nepal when the incident occurred. However, family members have been unable to reach him, and his phone is not ringing.
“We came here today after watching the news. They told us that they would give us an update within two hours. We were told that 21 people are safe, but there is still no clear information about these people. They have asked us to wait for another two hours for an update,” she added.
VIDEO | Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu: Relatives sought swift rescue of Kumbakonam couple stranded in Nepal, urged government to ensure their safe return.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p)#Nepal #NepalFlood pic.twitter.com/cthtmOqulZ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 26, 2026
The last message she received from her friend was “good morning”, after which there was no response.
In Trichy, Sivaranjani, wife of Muthunathan, travelled to Nepal with friends and relatives. She sent a message to her family saying she was “safe”. Her husband informed IANS that she was safe.
Muthunathan said, “My wife left Chennai on the 23rd through a travel agency called Yaathirai Travels, based in Kumbakonam. Today, she contacted me and informed me that she was safe. At that time, I was not aware of the impact of the floods. As soon as I received information that a sudden flash flood had occurred in Nepal, I was shocked and worried. A few minutes later, I received information that my wife and everyone who had travelled with her were safe…”
Isha Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in Coimbatore, claimed 77 of its members who were at an immigration centre were missing, PTI reported.
“There has been no official information on the whereabouts of any of the people who were at the immigration office,” said its founder Sadhguru.
