6 days ago
Sadhguru Says 80 Isha Pilgrims Missing After Nepal Floods
A group of Isha Foundation pilgrims was traveling back after visiting Kailash Mansarovar.
They stopped at an immigration building near Gyirong, close to the Nepal-Tibet border.
A sudden flash flood hit the area and reportedly washed away the building and parts of the town.
Sadhguru said 80 people from the group could not be found, while the foundation gave a figure of 77 pilgrims.
The group included men and women from many countries.
The last message from their leader arrived at about 9:05 in the morning.
Phones and roads stopped working, so people could not quickly learn what happened.
Sadhguru asked authorities to let him and volunteers travel there to help search.
Reports differed about whether the flood involved a glacial collapse, debris flow, lake burst or earthquake, and the pilgrims' fate was not confirmed.
Sadhguru said 80 Isha Foundation S3 group members remain unaccounted for, while the foundation separately reported 77 missing pilgrims.
The international group was returning from the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra when flash floods struck near Gyirong, close to the Nepal-Tibet border.
The pilgrims were at or near an immigration facility that was reportedly swept away by floodwaters and debris.
The last reported message from group leader Praveen came at about 9:05 a.m.; contact was lost roughly nine minutes later.
Roads and telecommunications were disrupted, while reports cited hundreds missing and at least 157 deaths in Nepal.
- Who
- An Isha Foundation S3 pilgrimage group, reported as 77 pilgrims by the foundation and 80 members by Sadhguru; it included people from multiple countries.
- What
- The pilgrims became unreachable after flash floods struck while they were returning from the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
- Where
- At or near an immigration facility in Gyirong, Tibet, near the Nepal-Tibet border, while the group was traveling toward Kathmandu.
- When
- The floods struck on Wednesday; the last known message was sent at approximately 9:05 a.m., with contact lost about nine minutes later.
- Why
- Floodwaters and debris disrupted buildings, roads, bridges and telecommunications; the precise trigger was not consistently established in the reports.
Isha Foundation Account
Sadhguru's Account
Number of missing pilgrims
Isha Foundation Account
The Isha Foundation said 77 pilgrims had reached the immigration centre and remained unreachable.
Sadhguru's Account
Sadhguru said 80 members of the Isha Foundation's S3 group were missing.
Possible cause of flooding
Isha Foundation Account
The foundation cited the United States Geological Survey's description of the event as involving glacial collapse and debris flow.
Sadhguru's Account
Sadhguru said the cause was not established and referred to possible ice or glacial failure, a lake burst or an earthquake.
Response to the crisis
Isha Foundation Account
The foundation said it was waiting for official information because communications with the group and affected area had failed.
Sadhguru's Account
Sadhguru asked Indian and Chinese authorities to allow him and volunteers to reach Gyirong, with the American embassy also working to help secure permission.
Key facts
- Reported missing or unreachable
- 80 according to Sadhguru; 77 according to the Isha Foundation
- Group composition
- Sadhguru reported 34 men and 46 women
- Countries represented
- Sadhguru listed members from 19 countries; the foundation also described the group as international
- People of Indian origin
- 53, according to the Isha Foundation
- Last known contact
- Group leader Praveen sent a message at about 9:05 a.m.; communication was lost around 9:14 a.m.
- Additional people unaccounted for
- Sadhguru said three volunteers and one doctor staying in nearby hotels were also missing
- Wider disaster impact
- Reports cited at least 157 deaths and nearly 400 missing in Nepal; Sadhguru referred to a report listing 484 missing on the Nepali side
Quotes
Jaggi Vasudev (Sadhguru)
Founder of the Isha Foundation and spiritual leader
“We haven't been able to establish contact yet because there was a massive flood. All communication lines are down, and we cannot reach anyone on the ground. We are just waiting to hear back from the authorities with some information... hoping to find out something by tomorrow morning.”
livemint.com
“One of our team members spoke to him at 9:05 am. However, when we tried to contact him again ten minutes later, we couldn't get through to him or anyone else. It seems the incident occurred within those ten minutes.”
livemint.com
Sources
Sadhguru breaks down as 77 Isha members on pilgrimage go missing
‘We are in Absolute pain’: Sadhguru breaks down as 80 pilgrims remain missing after Nepal floods | Video
Sadhguru Breaks Down As 80 Isha Foundation Members Go Missing In Nepal floods
Sadhguru Breaks Down Over 80 Isha Members Missing After Nepal-Tibet Flash Flood | Video
Sadhguru Breaks Down As 80 Of Isha Group Missing In Nepal Flood: "Terrible, Extraordinary Event"
Nepal flash floods: Isha Foundation says 53 people of Indian origin among 77 missing pilgrims
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