Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Veteran Mountaineer Among Indians Missing After Nepal Floods
A group of Indian pilgrims went to Nepal to travel toward Kailash-Mansarovar.
Severe floods then disrupted their journey.
Many people in the group could not be contacted.
The group included experienced mountaineer Dr Milind Chitley and his wife.
It also included two doctors and several older travelers.
Families have been trying to call them and find information.
Nepalese rescue teams are searching for people after the floods.
Officials reported that 178 Indians were missing, while the reported death toll from the floods reached 359.
Dr Milind P Chitley, his wife Janhavi and pilgrims in a group of around 40 are missing after floods in Nepal.
The group was travelling for the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage through Mumbai-based Hills and Trails.
Two Mumbai doctors, Dr Gayatri Deshpande and Dr Anand Deshpande, are also among those reported missing.
Senior citizens Sunil S Subhedar, 68, and Chetna Gupta, 64, are among the missing pilgrims.
Nepal’s government put the number of Indians reported missing at 178, while rescue operations continued after floods killed 359 people.
- Who
- Dr Milind P Chitley, his wife Janhavi, two Mumbai doctors and other pilgrims, including senior citizens, were reported missing.
- What
- A group travelling for the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage could not be contacted after flash floods in Nepal.
- When
- The group began its journey on August 23; communication with several travelers was lost between Sunday and August 26, and the report was published after the floods on Thursday.
- Where
- The travelers were in Nepal, including the Timure area and routes toward an immigration centre and China.
- Why
- Flash floods disrupted travel and communications, leaving the pilgrims’ families unable to contact them.
- Reported Indians missing
- 178, according to the Nepal government
- Group size
- Around 40 pilgrims
- Tour operator
- Hills and Trails, coordinated with Nepal-based Richa Tours and Travels
- Journey dates
- August 23 to September 6; the Deshpande couple was scheduled to return September 7
- Flood death toll
- 359 reported on Thursday
- Milind Chitley’s mountaineering experience
- More than three decades of expeditions and over 3,000 Himalayan trails and expeditions
- Notable missing travelers
- Dr Gayatri Deshpande, Dr Anand Deshpande, Sunil S Subhedar and Chetna Gupta