2 days ago
Former Madras High Court Judge Missing After Nepal Flood
Former judge V. Sivagnanam is missing in Nepal.
He was travelling with Tamil pilgrims when a flash flood and landslides struck on August 26.
He last spoke with his wife using WhatsApp early that morning.
Other pilgrims from the group were later rescued near a Nepal border outpost.
They said his bus was very close to theirs when the disaster happened.
Lawyers’ groups have asked Indian authorities to help find him.
One group wrote to the Chief Justice of India, while another also contacted the prime minister and the foreign ministry.
Reports say many people, including more than 49 Tamil Nadu pilgrims, are still unaccounted for.
Former Madras High Court judge and senior advocate V. Sivagnanam has been missing in Nepal since the August 26 flash flood.
He was travelling with Tamil pilgrims, and his last known contact with his wife was a WhatsApp call early that day.
Rescued pilgrims reportedly said Sivagnanam’s bus was 100 to 200 metres from theirs when floods and landslides struck near Timure.
The Tamil Advocates Association in Delhi and the Madras Bar Association separately urged Indian authorities to launch an urgent search and rescue effort.
Reports said 4,247 people remained missing in Nepal, while more than 49 Tamil Nadu pilgrims from the same journey were unaccounted for.
- Who
- V. Sivagnanam, a former Madras High Court judge and senior advocate, is missing along with other people affected by the disaster.
- What
- Sivagnanam has been untraceable after a flash flood and landslides, prompting lawyers’ groups to seek an urgent search and rescue operation.
- Where
- Near Timure and the Armed Police Force Nepal Border Outpost in Nepal.
- When
- The disaster and Sivagnanam’s last known contact occurred on August 26; the reported appeals were made on Sunday and Monday.
- Why
- His bus was reportedly near another pilgrims’ bus when the flood and landslides struck, and he has not communicated since.
Key facts
- Reported missing in Nepal
- 4,247 people, according to the report.
- Tamil Nadu pilgrims unaccounted for
- More than 49, according to the owner of the travel firm that organised the Kailash Yatra.
- Last known contact
- Sivagnanam spoke with his wife over WhatsApp in the early hours of August 26.
- Reported bus distance
- Rescued pilgrims said his bus was approximately 100 to 200 metres from theirs.
- Rescue location
- Fellow pilgrims were rescued near the Armed Police Force Nepal Border Outpost at Timure.
- Authorities contacted
- The appeals sought action from the Chief Justice of India, the Centre, the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of External Affairs.
- Legal career
- Sivagnanam served about 34 years in the judiciary and was designated a senior advocate by the Supreme Court effective July 2025.
Quotes
Madras Bar Association office-bearers
Representatives of the Madras Bar Association who signed the appeal concerning Justice Sivagnanam.
“At this extremely difficult time, the family and colleagues of Justice Sivagnanam are in deep anxiety...a prompt, coordinated and sustained effort by the Government of India could provide vital assistance in locating him and, above all, ensure his safe return,”
thehansindia.com
“He was travelling in Nepal as part of a group of Tamil pilgrims when the disaster struck,”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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