11 Bengaluru Residents Among 13 From Karnataka Stranded in Nepal Floods

Eleven travellers from Bengaluru Urban are among 13 Karnataka residents identified as stranded in Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region following devastating flash floods along the border corridors, the State Emergency Operations Centre confirmed on Thursday.

According to the SEOC, the stranded travellers include 11 from Bengaluru Urban and one each from Mysuru and Dharwad districts. Most of the individuals are located in Timure in Nepal's Rasuwa district, while a few are stranded in Darchen in the Tibet Autonomous Region while undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage in multi-state tour groups.

The disaster was triggered when floodwaters first struck the Rasuwagadhi-Timure belt in Rasuwa district near the Nepal-China border, before surging downstream into the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems. The deluge destroyed bridges, disrupted power supplies, and washed away extensive stretches of road.

Travellers from Karnataka caught in the impact zone described narrow escapes and severe infrastructural damage. Mallikarjun, a pilgrim from Karnataka who left for the yatra on August 21, recounted that their driver moved their vehicle nearly a kilometre away just as the flood struck, allowing their group to retreat safely towards Kathmandu.

Another traveller, Murali, reported that around 70 Kannadigas travelling in his group were safe but remained stranded due to the destruction of infrastructure. He noted that nearly 40 kilometres of roads had been washed away, with hotels and immigration offices heavily affected along the route.

Concerns also remain for Karnataka traveller Rakesh Naik, who had joined an Isha Foundation group after arriving from Australia on August 12. According to his family, Naik last made contact early Wednesday morning before his group entered the wider flood-affected zone.

Minister Priyank Kharge stated on Thursday that the state government is in contact with the Ministry of External Affairs regarding stranded and missing citizens across the affected areas.

The SEOC has advised stranded individuals to remain in safe locations and follow instructions from local authorities. Stranded persons, their relatives, and tour operators have been asked to submit specific details through an official SEOC form to coordinate ongoing rescue, evacuation, and assistance efforts.