Three days after a devastating flash flood struck areas near the China-Nepal border, the whereabouts of 77 pilgrims associated with the Isha Foundation remain unknown, with the group continuing to be out of contact. The pilgrims were part of a group led by the Isha Foundation, founded by Indian spiritual leader Jaggi Vasudev, popularly known as Sadhguru. The group's coordinator said on Friday that there had been no update on their status since the disaster.

Maa Gambhiri, a coordinator with the group, told PTI that the 77-member contingent had remained unreachable following the massive flash flood. The group includes participants from 19 nationalities, making the search and rescue effort an international concern. The lack of communication has heightened anxiety among relatives and others waiting for information about the pilgrims.

The flash flood affected areas near the China-Nepal border, with Gyirong identified as the ground zero of the disaster. The scale of the flooding and disruption in the region has complicated efforts to establish contact with people who were in the affected areas. With communication and access routes disrupted, authorities and organisations have been working to gather information on people whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Gambhiri said Sadhguru had wanted to travel to Gyirong to help with efforts at the disaster site but was unable to do so because the necessary approval was not granted. She did not provide details about which authority was responsible for the approval or the specific reason for the decision. The Isha Foundation has instead been seeking information through diplomatic and government channels as efforts continue to locate the missing group.

According to Gambhiri, the organisation has contacted every embassy in India, China and Nepal in an effort to obtain assistance and information. The group has also approached various government offices and ministries in India and Nepal. The outreach reflects the cross-border nature of the incident and the difficulties involved in tracing a large group that was travelling in a region affected by a major natural disaster.

The 77 pilgrims are associated with the Isha Foundation, a spiritual organisation established by Sadhguru. Their presence in the region brought together people from 19 different nationalities. Because the group includes foreign nationals as well as Indians, the foundation has sought assistance from diplomatic missions and authorities in multiple countries while trying to establish their whereabouts.

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The continuing lack of information three days after the disaster has left families and the organisation awaiting confirmation about the pilgrims' safety. Being out of contact does not by itself establish that the group has been harmed, particularly in a disaster zone where telecommunications and transportation can be severely disrupted. Authorities will need to establish whether the pilgrims are stranded, have been moved to safer locations or remain in an area where communication is unavailable.

The situation also underscores the logistical challenges of conducting rescue and tracing operations in remote border regions. Flash floods can rapidly alter roads, river crossings and other routes, while damaged infrastructure can make access difficult for emergency teams. Cross-border coordination can add another layer of complexity when people from multiple nationalities are involved.

For now, the Isha Foundation is continuing to seek information through government agencies, ministries and diplomatic missions in India, China and Nepal. Gambhiri said every available channel was being used to obtain assistance and determine what happened to the group. Until authorities or the foundation establish contact, the 77 pilgrims remain unaccounted for following the flash flood near the China-Nepal border.

The absence of an update has kept the focus on search and rescue efforts and on establishing reliable information about those affected. The foundation and the families of the pilgrims are awaiting confirmation from authorities as efforts continue in the aftermath of the disaster. Further information about the group's location and condition will depend on developments from the affected region and the ongoing coordination between the concerned authorities.

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