Family of Indian-American woman missing after Nepal-Tibet floods hold on to hope

The family of Jiwan Jyoti, an Indian-American engineer from Boston, are holding onto hope that their loved one will be found safe following the catastrophic floods that struck Nepal and Tibet, claiming over 2,000 lives. Jyoti, who celebrated her 50th birthday, was on a pilgrimage when she went missing. She was last known to be at Hotel Kailash in Rasuwagadhi, near Nepal's border with China, when contact was lost with her on Wednesday.

Her husband spoke to her by phone from the U.S. just before she disappeared, and it lasted approximately nine minutes. After that, there was no communication. The family, accompanied by other relatives, has traveled to Nepal to stay informed of the ongoing search and rescue efforts. Nepal Police reported that 626 people have been confirmed dead, with 1,473 injured, and over 4,000 police personnel are involved in the response.

Jyoti, a devoted mother and working professional, spent four days in Kathmandu before traveling to Rasuwagadhi, an area close to the Nepal-China border and a pilgrimage route to Mount Kailash in Tibet. Her husband expressed their frustration as the area has been devastated, with roads and hotels destroyed. They were advised not to venture towards Rasuwagadhi themselves, leaving them dependent on updates from authorities, embassies, and tour operators.

Despite the overwhelming destruction, the family remains optimistic that Jiyo may have reached higher ground before the flood, as some witnesses may have had time to move to safer areas. They understand that the chances of finding her alive decrease with each passing day but refuse to lose hope, urging officials not to give up on the search.