The family of two Irish citizens missing in the wake of devastating flash floods in Nepal are clinging to hope as international rescue teams race against time and treacherous weather conditions across remote Himalayan terrain.
The missing travelers, identified by Nepal’s Department of Tourism as 46-year-old Santosh Sahu and his 18-year-old son Spandan Sahu, were among hundreds of foreign tourists reported unaccounted for after a massive surge of water, mud, and debris swept through the mountain valleys along the Nepal-Tibet border.
Sacred Pilgrimage Interrupted by Disaster
Santosh and Spandan Sahu were traveling as part of an organized 17-member group on a trek to Lake Gosainkunda, a high-altitude alpine lake situated at 4,380 meters in Nepal’s Rasuwa district. The location is a revered pilgrimage site for both Hindu and Buddhist devotees, situated within Langtang National Park.
According to statements released by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and tour operator Alpine Eco Trek, all direct contact with the group was abruptly severed following catastrophic flooding caused by a glacial outburst upstream. The sudden wall of water obliterated mountain roads, washed away vital bridges, and knocked out local cellular networks, leaving the trekking party completely isolated in high-altitude terrain.
Family Clings to Hope Amid Communication Blackout
Back in Ireland, the family remains in continuous contact with authorities, holding onto hope that the group managed to seek shelter in higher ground or remote mountain villages where power and telecommunication lines remain down. Tour operators noted that experienced local mountain guides were leading the expedition, raising expectations that the team executed emergency survival protocols when the weather deteriorated.
Despite the lack of direct contact, relatives emphasize that the absence of news does not mean the worst, given the total destruction of communication infrastructure across the Rasuwa district.
Governmental Response and Relief Efforts
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the affected family and coordinating closely with Nepalese authorities, diplomatic partners, and disaster response agencies on the ground.
To support the broader humanitarian effort, the Irish Government announced €500,000 in emergency aid to assist the Red Cross in delivering food, shelter, and medical support to impacted communities. Meanwhile, Nepalese military helicopters and specialized mountain rescue units continue airlifting stranded survivors, though ongoing landslide risks and rising water levels continue to complicate search operations across affected valleys.
