Deepak and Madhu Ahuja Missing After Flash Floods Strike Nepal-Tibet Border During Kailash Pilgrimage
Quick Look
- Deepak Ahuja, 60, and his wife Madhu Ahuja, 57, an Indian-origin US couple from Texas, are among approximately 90 US citizens unaccounted for after flash floods and mudslides struck the Nepal-Tibet border during a Mount Kailash pilgrimage.
- Their daughters reported losing contact before the disaster and have sought help from US authorities and embassies in India, Nepal, and China.
- The US State Department confirmed three Americans were rescued and noted no known US deaths.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Mount Kailash is a sacred site for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bonpos, attracting thousands of pilgrims annually. The Nepal-Tibet border region is prone to flash floods and landslides, particularly during seasonal ice melt or heavy rainfall. The incident occurred during a organized pilgrimage, with multiple groups, including one affiliated with the Isha Foundation, present at an immigration facility near the border when the disaster struck.
Deepak Ahuja, 60, and his wife Madhu Ahuja, 57.
An Indian-origin US couple from Texas has gone missing during a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash after devastating flash floods and mudslides struck the Nepal-Tibet border, with around 90 US citizens unaccounted for, according to US officials. Deepak Ahuja, 60, and his wife Madhu Ahuja, 57, had travelled from Texas on a group pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. Their daughters, Shreya and Ashna Ahuja, told the BBC that they lost contact with their parents shortly before the floods struck and have since approached US authorities and embassies in India, Nepal and China for information about their whereabouts. The US State Department said about 90 US citizens may have been impacted by the disaster, while three Americans have been rescued. Officials said the US embassy in Nepal was working with local authorities and tour operators to assist affected Americans. The disaster also affected at least 77 people travelling with the Isha Foundation on a Kailash pilgrimage. The group was at an immigration facility near the border when the flash flood hit, according to the BBC. Initial reports suggested an earthquake may have triggered an ice avalanche and landslide. However, the US Geological Survey later said its analysis indicated that the seismic energy was generated by a landslide itself. Rainfall or melting ice may have destabilised the ground or ice, triggering the landslide and flash flooding. Scientists said it was too early to determine whether climate change contributed to the specific disaster.
Americans missing after Nepal floods
The Associated Press reported that about 90 Americans remained unaccounted for a day after catastrophic flash floods engulfed the Nepal-Tibet border region. The State Department said it was not aware of any US deaths and confirmed that three Americans had been rescued. Many of the missing were travelling on pilgrimages to Mount Kailash, a sacred site for Hindus, Buddhists and others. Among the missing are other Indian-origin US citizens, including 45-year-old Venus Rajnikant Patel and 72-year-old Long Island resident Jitendra Patel, AP reported. Nepal police said more than 500 tourists from 28 countries were missing, while Chinese state media reported hundreds missing in Tibet.
End of Article
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
US authorities will continue coordinating with Nepal and China to locate missing citizens.
Very likely · Within days
Official cause of the flash flood will be confirmed as landslide-triggered, not earthquake-related.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What is the current status of search and rescue operations for the missing?
- Have any bodies been recovered from the flood-affected areas?
- What specific measures are being taken to locate and assist the missing US citizens?
- Are there any updates on the condition of the three rescued Americans?
