More than 1,300 missing in Nepal and China after deadly Himalayan flood

On August 27, 2026, more than 100 individuals among the nearly 1,300 missing after devastating floods in a border region between Nepal and China were reportedly on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a revered Himalayan peak. The catastrophic event resulted in at least 168 fatalities and forced hundreds to flee their homes across the Himalayan region.

Mount Kailash, nestled in southwestern Tibet close to China's borders with Nepal and India, is a towering peak standing over 6,400 meters (21,000 feet) above sea level. It is situated in proximity to Lake Manasarovar, both of which have held immense religious significance for various Hindu traditions for centuries. This sacred mountain is considered the dwelling place of Shiva, the Hindu deity associated with destruction, and Parvati, a Hindu goddess linked to marriage, fertility, and motherhood.

In the Tibetan Bon tradition, Mount Kailash is viewed as a seat of spiritual power and is connected to Tonpa Shenrab, the tradition's founder. Geographer Emily Yeh, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder who has researched Tibet, wrote in 2017 that Kailash is also linked to the legendary Mount Meru, which is believed to be the world's center in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. The surrounding landscape is also steeped in local legends and Himalayan traditions.

One such story features Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, who is said to have visited villagers eager to embark on the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. Nanak reportedly taught them that the true pilgrimage is an inner spiritual journey.