32-member Kolkata group among many from West Bengal untraceable after Nepal disaster

A group of 32 individuals from Kolkata, embarking on a Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra in August, were among many from West Bengal whose whereabouts remained unknown after the flash floods in Nepal on the following day, according to an official. The 30 tourists and two tour managers had left Kolkata on August 21 and reached Nepal the next day.

They reached Rasuwagadhi to cross into Tibet when the disaster struck. Since the floods, there has been no communication with any member of the group, who are currently attempting to establish contact with all West Bengal residents potentially affected. Nearly 100 people were killed and over 750 remain missing, including 133 Indian nationals, in the disaster that also damaged key bridges and affected multiple hydropower projects.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and pledged to assist affected tourists, pilgrims, workers, and businessmen from the state. The Kolkata-based travel agency, Samrat Travel Agency, confirmed that the group's managers, Jayanta Sanyal and Nripen Sarkar, last communicated around 8 am.

However, the agency and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu have not received any updates on the missing. The state government has opened helplines to assist families searching for relatives affected in Nepal.