Spiritual leader Sadhguru has arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, after concluding his stay in Tibet, where he had been attempting to reach the site of devastating flash floods along the Bhote Koshi River. The Isha Foundation, in a somber statement, indicated there are “no encouraging indications of survivors” among 77 of its pilgrims who were caught in the disaster at Tibet's immigration office.
Sadhguru's Efforts Amidst Disaster
According to Maa Gambhiri, an Isha Foundation coordinator, Sadhguru remained in Tibet despite considerable pressure from the Indian government for him to travel by air. His intention was to reach the ground zero of the floods to offer assistance and to facilitate the exit of over 700 other Isha members who were also in Tibet. He preferred to travel by road, aiming to open a path for the remaining members.
The group had extended its stay in Tibet while seeking official permissions to access Gyirong, the area most severely impacted by the August 26 flash floods. However, Chinese military and rescue teams had restricted access, preventing them from reaching the site.
Grim Outlook for Missing Pilgrims
The 77 Isha pilgrims, who were returning from the Mansarovar Yatra, were at the immigration center in Tibet's Gyirong when it was tragically swept away by the floodwaters. The Isha Foundation has been relying on visual evidence, including photographs, videos, and reports from Chinese media, to track the dire situation.
Gambhiri described the challenge as deeply emotional, stemming from their inability to reach the site and ascertain the fate of their members. “It is just the challenge of not finding what has happened to our members. So I think that was the biggest challenge. And it was also very emotional for us,” she stated, acknowledging the harrowing time for the families involved.
Foundation Mobilizes Support
Despite the lack of specific official information on the missing participants, the Isha Foundation has mobilized extensive support. Volunteers in several countries are reaching out to families, including personal visits, and helplines have been established to provide support to those awaiting news.
A dedicated team has also been set up in Kathmandu to gather information, while another is stationed close to Gyirong on the Tibetan side, ready to relay any emerging details. The foundation continues to operate round-the-clock helplines and deploy volunteers globally.
Search Operations Resume, Destruction Confirmed
Chinese authorities resumed search and rescue operations at Gyirong Port around noon on August 28, following a temporary pause due to secondary flood risks. Isha Foundation's ground teams, positioned at the closest permitted locations on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border, have corroborated visual evidence of widespread destruction.
“At this time, there seem to be no encouraging indications of survivors at the immigration office area. The immigration office complex has been completely washed away,” the Isha Foundation confirmed in a statement. “We have been able to verify the extent of the destruction through multiple publicly available sources, as well as information being received from people on the ground.”