Ramesh Sharma, 65, and Neelam Sharma, 64, were travelling toward Mount Kailash when a devastating flash flood struck the Nepal-Tibet border, leaving hundreds missing. Their daughter is now appealing for information and help locating them.
On the Tibetan side, Chinese authorities reported casualties and hundreds of people missing in Gyirong County after a mudslide hit the border area, Reuters reported. The daughter is seeking information from people with contacts in Nepal, Gyirong and Tibet, as well as local hospitals, rescue teams, government authorities and media organizations operating in the affected areas. The couple went missing amid one of the deadliest disasters to hit the region in years. US citizens in affected areas have been urged to follow instructions from local authorities and monitor emergency information. Rescue efforts have been complicated by destroyed roads, damaged bridges and communications outages. Helicopters have also faced difficulties reaching some of the worst-hit areas.
A wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river along the Nepal-China border on August 26, triggering devastating flooding that swept through settlements, roads and infrastructure, according to Reuters’ report. Nepalese authorities said more than 400 tourists were missing, including hundreds of foreign nationals. Nepal police had recovered 157 bodies by late Wednesday, while rescue operations continued in difficult conditions, Reuters reported.
“My parents, Ramesh Sharma (65 Male) and Neelam Sharma (64 Female) are currently missing and unaccounted for following the flood at the Nepal-Tibet/China border,” she wrote in an Instagram post. The US State Department has said it is aware of Americans affected by the flooding and is working with local authorities and tour operators in the region.
