Bengaluru: At least 13 people from Karnataka are stranded in Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region following the devastating flash floods along the Nepal-China border, with a 45-year-old software engineer from Dharwad among those reported missing.
The information was shared by the office of Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar as rescue and search operations continued in the flood-hit Himalayan region. Of the 13 Karnataka residents stranded, 11 are from Bengaluru Urban district, according to the Chief Minister’s Office.
Dharwad Software Engineer Missing
The missing Karnataka resident has been identified as Rakesh Nayak, a 45-year-old software engineer originally from Dharwad who has been living in Australia for around a decade.
Nayak had travelled to the region as part of a Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. According to his family, he reached an immigration office near the Nepal-China border at around 9:10 pm on August 26. Flash floods reportedly struck the area approximately 20 minutes later.
His family has not been able to establish contact with him since then.
Nayak’s father, Shivaprasad, a retired railway officer, said the family was initially informed that his son and others were safe. However, communication was subsequently lost.
The family has approached the Indian Embassy and other officials seeking information about his whereabouts. Officials are coordinating with authorities on the Chinese side as efforts continue to trace missing Indian nationals.
Last Communication With Family
According to Nayak’s family, his last communication with his wife was on August 25. He had travelled to Delhi earlier in August before joining the pilgrimage.
His regular SIM card was reportedly not working in the region, and he was using another SIM card to communicate with his wife.
The family is now anxiously awaiting information from rescue agencies and diplomatic officials.
13 Karnataka Residents Stranded
The Karnataka government has said that 13 residents from the state are currently stranded in Nepal and Tibet, highlighting the scale of the crisis affecting Indian pilgrims and travellers.
The situation has particularly affected people travelling towards or returning from the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, with several foreign nationals also among those missing after the sudden flash floods.
The Karnataka government is coordinating with central authorities as efforts continue to establish contact with the stranded residents and locate those who remain unaccounted for.
290 Indians Reported Missing
The Karnataka situation comes amid a wider crisis involving Indian nationals caught in the Nepal-Tibet floods.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said around 290 Indians remained unaccounted for, while about 200 others were stranded on the Chinese side of the border, according to reports on Thursday.
Indian authorities are in contact with both Nepal and China as rescue and evacuation efforts continue.
Devastating Floods Hit Nepal-Tibet Border
The flash floods struck the Himalayan border region after a major glacial and debris-related event sent huge volumes of water, mud and rock through river valleys.
The disaster destroyed roads, bridges, buildings and border infrastructure, leaving several areas difficult to access. Rescue teams are using helicopters and other resources to evacuate survivors and search for missing people.
The scale of the disaster has also raised concerns about additional flooding from debris-dammed or barrier lakes in the region.
Families Await News
For families across Karnataka and other parts of India, the immediate priority remains establishing contact with loved ones.
The family of Dharwad’s Rakesh Nayak continues to hope that he and others reported missing will be located safely as rescue teams work through areas badly affected by mud, debris and damaged infrastructure.
Authorities have urged people to rely on official information as search and rescue operations remain underway.
Disclaimer: The number of stranded and missing people is subject to change as authorities receive new information and rescue teams reach previously inaccessible areas.
