Fifteen Australians, including a NSW couple and a Queensland mother, are missing in Nepal's Langtang Valley following catastrophic flash flooding.
Fifteen Australians, including a Western Sydney couple and a Queensland mother, are missing in Nepal's Langtang Valley following catastrophic flash flooding during a tour.
AI-generated summary
Catastrophic flash flooding hit the Langtang Valley in Nepal, stranding tourists and leaving a tour group unaccounted for.
The ABC has confirmed the identity of a NSW couple who are among a tour group including 15 Australians currently missing in Nepal after catastrophic flash flooding.
Venkatraman Balakrishnan, 52, and his wife Chitra Venkatraman, 46, from Western Sydney, were taking part in a tour with US-based hiking company Himalayan Glacier when the natural disaster struck.
The couple's son told the ABC he last spoke to his parents when they were approximately 15 kilometres from the Tibet border.
He said he had not heard from them since, but he held out hope the entire tour group would be found safe.
"I'd like to see my parents and everyone who went with them back in one piece, and that everyone else there is as safe as possible," he said.
The tour company said a group of 47 people, including the 15 Australians, were still unaccounted for in the Langtang Valley.
Two Australian boys, aged 11 and 14, are also part of the tour group.
Queensland mother-of-two among missing
Swaatika Kanniah is the daughter of missing tourist Kanagamah Sundrasan, who visited Mount Kailash to complete a pilgrimage.
"According to her itinerary, today was supposed to be the day she was getting there, basically," Ms Kanniah said.
"It's a very sacred spot, so it was one of her dreams to fulfil."
The mother-of-two owns a business with her husband in Queensland, and last spoke to her family on Tuesday.
"It's been a bit worrying because we haven't been able to contact her yet; it's been really hard to grab hold of anyone who has any information," Ms Kanniah said.
Ms Kanniah said her mum was "very giving" and "the kindest woman ever".
"She doesn't really go on trips like this; that's why it was very exciting for her to travel and do this thing that she always wanted to do."
Anxious wait for loved ones living in Australia
In Adelaide, Manisha Khatri is anxiously awaiting news about her missing brother-in-law Dipendra Bistra.
Ms Khatri found out Mr Bistra was unaccounted for during a routine call to family on Wednesday night.
Ms Khatri said there was nothing she could do but pray.
"There is a different kind of pain in watching, like, our home country and homeland drown while we are miles away," she said.
"We are unable to express our feelings; it hurts."
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the "scale of the destruction is devastating".
She said she had been in contact with Australia's ambassadors in Nepal and China to offer her support and request that they do "everything they are able" to help locate missing Australians.
Travellers in the area are being advised to exercise caution and follow the advice of local authorities.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Australian embassy officials will continue efforts to locate missing citizens.
Very likely · Within days
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