West Bengal: Sharmistha Bhowmik Roy, wife of former Trinamool Congress MLA Subhranshu Roy, is among those reported missing after devastating flash floods struck Nepal near its border with Tibet.

Sharmistha, who lives in North 24 Parganas, left Kolkata on August 21 for a Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage. She was travelling as part of a group arranged through a travel agency and was reportedly in the Kyirong area when communication with her was lost. 

Subhranshu Roy, a former Bijpur MLA and son of late veteran politician Mukul Roy, last spoke to his wife on the night of August 25. She was then in Kyirong, the main overland crossing between Nepal and Tibet and a key route for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.

Pilgrimage group out of contact

A group from Kolkata travelling towards Mount Kailash and Mansarovar has also been reported missing. The group comprised 30 tourists and two tour managers. It left Kolkata on August 21 and reached Nepal the following day.

The group reached Rasuwagadhi, near the Nepal-Tibet border, on Wednesday morning and was at an immigration office at around 8.30 am.

Sudden flooding in the Bhotekoshi River basin in Nepal’s Rasuwa district damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Power lines and mobile communication networks were also disrupted, making it difficult for families to contact those travelling in the affected areas.

Reports said several families from Kolkata, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas and Darjeeling were waiting for information about relatives in the region.

288 Indians reported out of contact

Nepal has reported a major loss of life following the floods, with the death toll reaching 359 on Thursday and hundreds still missing. The Ministry of External Affairs said 288 Indians were among those reported out of contact.

Nepalese officials said an earthquake was recorded in the Tibet region at 8.37 am on Wednesday, followed minutes later by reports of flash flooding. Officials said the tremor may have triggered a glacial outburst that led to the sudden surge of water.

The flooding swept through settlements, damaged bridges and affected hydropower infrastructure. Rescue teams have faced difficulties reaching some areas because roads and communication links were disrupted.

The MEA has established a 24-hour control room to assist people affected by the situation. Indian missions in Kathmandu and Beijing have also opened round-the-clock helplines as efforts continue to trace missing people.