She was about to cross into Tibet for a long-awaited pilgrimage - then her messages stopped

On Wednesday morning, Sudipto Bhattacharya received his final messages from his wife, Subhrasree Chakraborty. She had sent a picture of her passport stamp in Nepal at 07:57 GMT and informed her husband that they were waiting to enter China. At 08:03, Subhrasree wrote that they were waiting to enter Tibet. However, the final messages abruptly ceased.

Subhrasree and the group she had traveled with had been waiting to cross into Tibet to continue their pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a sacred site for Hinduism. The 43-year-old had been dreaming of visiting Mount Kailash for years.

Subhrasree was part of a group of approximately 30 people from Kathmandu, Nepal, on their way to Mount Kailash. The pilgrimage resumed after a lengthy hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and India-China tensions. Many of those missing in the floods were on this pilgrimage, which had been postponed due to previous disruptions.

Subhrasree's husband reported that she was healthy and physically fit, accustomed to handling emergencies. She had even trained in CPR and intensive-care procedures. Despite her readiness for the journey, her family remains in the dark about her fate. The last contact they had with her was on August 26, when she informed her husband about completing Nepal immigration and waiting to cross into Tibet.

Around an hour later, Subhrasree told Bhattacharya that the Nepal immigration formalities were done and that the group was awaiting the Chinese immigration facility in Gyirong.

Bhattacharya believes that Subhrasree might have been at the Chinese immigration building when the disaster occurred. He waited anxiously for her next message, but there was no response. He attempted to contact other members of the group and tour operators, but there was no answer. The family has not received any updates since. They are desperate for information regarding whether Subhrasree was rescued, if the group was among those rescued in China, or if they are both missing.

The story of Subhrasree and other missing pilgrims like her highlights the anguish experienced by families eagerly awaiting updates. The commander appeals for the Chinese government to provide a detailed list of missing individuals, including those rescued and those who may have not been. Rina Banerjee, another missing pilgrim, was traveling alone with a tour operator. The family is uncertain about her whereabouts, as she could have crossed the border into China or remained in Nepal.