Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Sadhguru Seeks Access as Tibet Flood Leaves Pilgrims Missing
A powerful flood hit Gyirong near the Tibet-Nepal border.
A group traveling on a Kailash pilgrimage was at an immigration centre when the water arrived.
The group sent its last message at 9:05 a.m., and the flood reportedly struck nine minutes later.
Sadhguru said 77 people from the group could not be found.
His latest statement referred to losing 80 people, creating a difference in the reported numbers.
He and the families want permission to reach the area and help rescuers search.
Nepalese soldiers, police and helicopters are looking for missing people and helping those affected.
Roads, phones, electricity and buildings were badly damaged.
Officials have reported different figures for deaths and missing travellers as rescue work continues.
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev said 77 members of an Isha Foundation Kailash pilgrimage group remain unaccounted for after a flash flood struck Gyirong.
The group last contacted its leader at 9:05 a.m. on Wednesday after reaching an immigration centre; floodwaters reportedly hit nine minutes later.
Sadhguru and families of the missing pilgrims are seeking Chinese permission to travel to Gyirong with volunteers and assist search efforts.
Nepal has deployed military, police and helicopters, while roads, telecommunications and power supplies remain disrupted.
Reports differ on the disaster’s toll and missing-person count, with Nepal authorities citing 165 recovered bodies and tourism data listing 579 missing travellers.
- Who
- Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Isha Foundation pilgrims and volunteers, local residents, Nepali guides, and Nepalese rescue teams were involved or affected.
- What
- A debris-laden flash flood left people dead and missing, including 77 unaccounted-for members of an Isha Foundation pilgrimage group.
- When
- The flood struck on Wednesday; the group’s last reported message was sent at 9:05 a.m., about nine minutes before the flood.
- Where
- The disaster struck Gyirong in Tibet, near the Nepal-China border, and affected Rasuwagadhi, Timure and Syaphru Besi in Nepal’s Rasuwa district and areas along the Trishuli River.
- Why
- Reports attributed the flooding to a glacier collapse and resulting flows through the Lhende Khola and Bhote Koshi River, although Sadhguru said the precise trigger had not been officially confirmed.
Earlier or Reported Figures
Later Official Updates
Missing and out-of-contact people
Earlier or Reported Figures
Earlier preliminary accounts cited 384 people out of contact, while Sadhguru referred to about 484 missing on the Nepalese side and 77 pilgrims from his group.
Later Official Updates
Nepal Tourism Board data later cited 579 missing travellers, while another report said 644 tourists remained out of contact.
Reported death toll
Earlier or Reported Figures
A preliminary report cited 95 deaths in Nepal’s Rasuwa district.
Later Official Updates
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that 165 bodies had been recovered, with identification still underway.
Access to the disaster area
Earlier or Reported Figures
Sadhguru and families of the missing pilgrims want to travel to Gyirong with a small volunteer team to look for signs and assist.
Later Official Updates
Sadhguru said authorities’ rescue operations should not be hindered and that access requires Chinese approval because roads and communications are disrupted.
- Unaccounted-for pilgrims
- Sadhguru said 77 members of one Kailash pilgrimage group remained unaccounted for; a later statement referred to losing 80 people.
- Group composition
- The group was described as having 80 participants, including 34 men and 46 women, as well as volunteers and a doctor staying at nearby hotels.
- Last contact
- The group leader reportedly messaged at 9:05 a.m. after reaching the immigration centre; the flood struck at about 9:14 a.m.
- Recovered bodies
- Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said 165 bodies had been recovered, with identification underway.
- Missing travellers
- Nepal Tourism Board figures cited in the reports ranged from 579 to 644 travellers out of contact; one earlier preliminary report cited 384 people.
- Air evacuations
- A total of 123 people, including 94 Nepalis and 29 foreign nationals, were evacuated by air from Timure.
- Requested access
- Sadhguru said permission was being sought through the Indian and Chinese embassies, with the United States embassy also involved.
Sources
Nepal flood: Sadhguru was headed to the same Tibet centre where 80 Isha pilgrims went out of contact
'Lost 80 people': Sadhguru seeks China approval to search for missing pilgrims in flood hit Gyirong
Sadhguru Seeks Nod to Reach Nepal Flood Site, 77 from Group Missing