Isha Foundation Shares Update on Nepal-Tibet Border Floods, 80 People Remain Unaccounted For
September 12, 2026: Isha Foundation has shared an update on the flash floods at the Nepal-Tibet border, saying that 77 participants of the Kailash Manasarovar Sojourn and three volunteers remain unaccounted for. The number is unchanged from the foundation's last update.
The foundation said the Isha community has been deeply affected by the floods over the past two weeks. Volunteers on the ground in Nepal and in other city centres, along with people supporting remotely from different parts of the world, have been working to provide assistance to affected families and support one another.
Isha said its main priority is to support the affected families and provide them with verified information as soon as it becomes available.
Contact With Governments and Embassies
The foundation said it remains in regular contact with Chinese, Indian and Nepali authorities, as well as the relevant embassies of 19 countries in India, Nepal and China. Its teams are following up through these channels to get information about affected people, understand official processes and next steps, and pass information received through government and consular channels to the families.
Where needed, identification details, photographs and other information have been shared with authorities and search-and-rescue teams to support identification and search efforts.
Isha volunteers have also been in contact with agencies including the US State Department and Global Affairs Canada. The foundation said their help in getting updates from the Chinese government has been useful.
Isha said any new information that can be shared will first be communicated to the affected families and will be made public where it is legal, ethical and appropriate.
The foundation also said it will protect the privacy of affected families and volunteers and will not make their names, photographs or personal information public or share them with media outlets.
An update from Maa Gambhiri (Coordinator of Isha Sacred Walks) about the current situation after the flash floods at the Nepal-Tibet border, and what Isha Volunteers are doing to offer every possible assistance. pic.twitter.com/N55JxDt0Dw
— Isha Foundation (@ishafoundation) September 12, 2026
Access to the Site Remains Restricted
According to Isha Foundation, access to the site at Gyirong Port on the Chinese side of the Nepal-Tibet border remains restricted by Chinese authorities for forensic and rescue work. Access on the Nepal side also remains restricted by Nepali authorities.
No private individuals or organisations have been allowed near the site. Isha volunteers were stationed in Gyirong Town to get updates on the relief work until Chinese authorities asked all non-official personnel to leave the area.
The foundation said it will share updates if new access to the site is allowed.
Volunteers Working in Nepal
In Nepal, around 25 Nepali volunteers have been deployed to support the work on the ground. Their knowledge of the local language has helped them coordinate with hospitals, mortuaries, police, government offices and other local authorities.
The volunteers have approached Nepal Police and Nepal Tourist Police, shared the full list of affected people and available documents, and remained in regular contact with them. Through their network, they have also established contact with the Nepali Army and shared information about the missing people with the search-and-rescue teams.
The volunteers are also regularly checking official Nepali and Chinese government and police sources for information about rescue work and identification.
Isha said that after the disaster, there was initially no clear central system for information. The Nepal team therefore visited hospitals and mortuaries to collect available information and understand the identification process. The team has continued checking with them regularly.
The volunteers have also visited the DNA centre to understand the identification process and its requirements. The foundation said the process is different in different countries and is being coordinated through the respective countries' consular services.
Updates Being Shared With Families
Information and processes received from embassies and authorities are being shared with affected families so that emergency contacts receive the information provided by authorities and understand the next steps.
Isha said it will continue following up with local authorities and emergency services and share relevant information with families as soon as it becomes available.
Media Coverage and Hotline
Isha said international media were given access on Day 12, but their reports have not provided any new facts.
The foundation has also set up a dedicated team of volunteers to respond to emails and calls received through its email address and hotline in eight countries. It said it will try to respond to every query within 24 hours.
For information, questions or tips, people can contact yatra.kailash@ishausa.org.
The foundation has also asked people who have new information that could help it or emergency services to contact the team through the same channels.
Support for Families
Isha said its team is helping families with practical matters related to the situation. This includes working with the Nepal tour operator and DHL to arrange the shipment of belongings left behind by participants in Kathmandu.
The foundation thanked emergency workers involved in the response, along with the Nepali, Chinese and Indian embassies, diplomats, government authorities, police, search-and-rescue teams and forensic teams working on the mission.
Isha said the situation remains extremely difficult for everyone affected and thanked people for their support, patience and compassion. The foundation said it will continue to seek, follow up on and share relevant information with affected families and the wider community as soon as it is able to do so.