Flood Disaster Leaves American Pilgrims Missing in Nepal-Tibet Region

Heavy rains and a glacier collapse on the Trishuli River caused a flash flood that swept dozens of settlements along the Nepal-Tibet border. Nepal’s disaster management authority reported a death toll of 676 and more than 3,700 people rescued. Authorities said roughly 3,000 individuals remain missing, including about 90 Americans according to U.S. officials, while a Nepalese list identifies 63 U.S. citizens as “out of contact.” Many of those missing were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a sacred site for Hindus, Buddhists and others.

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Jitendra Patel, a 72-year-old Long Island resident who immigrated to the United States in 1979, was traveling with a group that crossed the Gyirong/Kerung border on the morning of the flood. His son, Sunny Patel, said the last conversation occurred at approximately 8:13 a.m. Tibet/China time, when his father confirmed he had cleared Chinese immigration and was already in Tibet. Since that call, Patel’s phone has not reconnected to WhatsApp, and all messages remain undelivered. “He's the kindest person I know. The most genuine person, just believed in the goodness of everybody, probably to a fault, to be honest,” — Sunny Patel. Long-time neighbor Jigisha Motwani, who has known the Patel family for decades, called the loss “gutted” and emphasized the close ties among South Asian families in Merrick, Long Island, noting, “All of these people are like an extended family,” “All of these people are like an extended family,” — Jigisha Motwani.

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President Donald Trump addressed the situation at the White House, calling the flooding “terrible” and confirming that Washington had offered Nepal any assistance it needed. The State Department deployed a disaster-response adviser and pledged $500,000 in humanitarian aid for shelter, relief supplies, water and sanitation. A State Department spokesperson said, “We let them know anything they want, we’ll have,” “We let them know anything they want, we'll have.” — The State Department.

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• Jitendra Patel – 72, American citizen, missing after flood.

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• Sunny Patel – son, provided the last known contact details.

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• Death toll: 676 (Nepal).

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• Missing overall: ~3,000; U.S. missing: 90 (U.S. officials) or 63 (Nepal list).

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• Aid pledged: $500,000 in humanitarian assistance.

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Preliminary assessments indicate a large Himalayan glacier collapsed, releasing ice, water, mud and rock that overwhelmed downstream rivers. Scientists continue to investigate the trigger for the glacier failure. Nepal’s foreign minister called for a global effort to address climate change, noting Nepal’s disproportionate vulnerability despite its minimal greenhouse-gas emissions.

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