How the team went missing

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of the Isha Foundation, on Thursday said a group of 80 people travelling with the organisation was believed to be in the affected area when the disaster struck.

The group included tourists from several countries, including three from Nepal, while the remaining members were from the US, Canada, Australia, UK and other countries.

In a statement issued from the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore, Sadhguru said the group had reached the immigration area shortly before the disaster.

The group leader, Eshang Praveen, sent a message at around 9.05 am saying they had reached immigration. The flash flood reportedly occurred at around 9.14 am.

No communication

"This is a very frightening and extraordinary event. Unfortunately, this has happened," Sadhguru said.

Sadhguru said communication networks in the area had completely failed, with phones and other telecommunications services unavailable. Roads have also been washed away, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach the affected town.

Who are in the team?

He said the group comprised 22 people from the United States, 12 from Canada, 11 from Australia, nine from the United Kingdom, four from Germany, three each from France and Nepal, two each from the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and Spain, and one each from Finland, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia and South Africa.

Of the 80 people, 34 were men and 46 were women. Three volunteers and a doctor staying at a nearby hotel were also believed to be in the area, Sadhguru said.

Sadhguru expressed particular concern over the absence of any communication from the group.

Team likely trapped inside building

He said that if Praveen and the group had crossed into Nepal, the Nepalese mobile network would normally have become active. However, that had not happened, raising fears that the entire group could still be trapped inside the affected building.

He said the building where the group was present had collapsed. The same building had been used by the group for immigration formalities about a week earlier.

"The building where we were for immigration just a week ago has completely collapsed. A part of the town has also collapsed," Sadhguru said.

According to reports cited by Sadhguru, around 484 people are believed to be missing on the Nepal side, while there was no reliable information available about casualties or missing persons on the other side of the affected region.

He said the overall number of people affected could be more than 1,500.

What caused the flash flood?

The flash flood is believed to have been caused by the sudden release of water from a lake or river, though the exact cause and scale of the disaster were yet to be officially established.

Sadhguru said the Isha Foundation had informed the concerned embassies in India and Nepal about the missing group, including the diplomatic missions of the countries whose citizens were travelling with them.

"We have informed all the embassies in India and Nepal relating to these countries. We are actively working on this, but really there is not much we can do," he said.

Seeking permission for rescue team

He added that he and a small team were seeking permission through the Indian and Chinese diplomatic channels, as well as the US Embassy, to travel to the affected area and assist with rescue efforts.

"I am trying to go there with a few more people to see if we can do anything," Sadhguru said.

The lack of communication has made it difficult to establish the exact number of casualties and missing persons. Sadhguru said several Nepalese guides accompanying the group also had families in the affected area, adding to concerns about the scale of the disaster.

The situation remained uncertain several hours after the flash flood, with rescue and relief efforts severely hampered by damaged roads and disrupted communications.