Finland-based Indian doctor missing after flash floods hit Nepal

Bilaspur: A 39-year-old Indian-born doctor based in Finland is among two NRI women reported missing after flash floods struck Nepal on August 25, with their families awaiting information about their safety. 

The doctor, from Chhattisgarh, and another woman, a British citizen from Surguja, were part of a group of around 77 pilgrims associated with the Isha Foundation who had undertaken the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. 

After completing their pilgrimage, the group reached the Rasuwagadhi immigration centre near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 25 for immigration formalities when the flash flood reportedly struck the area.

The doctor's family said they last spoke to her on the morning of August 25. She reportedly informed them that she was at the immigration centre and would speak to them later. Shortly afterwards, news of the flash flood emerged, and the family was unable to establish contact with her. 

Relatives had spoken to her for nearly an hour the previous night, when she reportedly shared details of her pilgrimage and told them about her plans to reach Kathmandu on August 25. She was scheduled to travel to Delhi on August 26 before returning to Bilaspur for Raksha Bandhan.

According to TOI, her mother said she had spoken enthusiastically about returning home for Raksha Bandhan. Her younger brother had been eagerly awaiting her arrival. Her father, a former chairman of the Bhiwani district council, said the family had been expecting their daughter before the festival. “Instead, we are waiting for news of her safety,” he said. 

According to her family, attempts to contact her after the disaster were unsuccessful. They have since been coordinating with authorities and have submitted the documents sought by the Chhattisgarh government.

The doctor had completed her schooling and BDS in Chhattisgarh before moving to the UK for higher studies. She later pursued a PhD in Finland, where she subsequently settled and worked as a university teacher.

“Her mother spoke to her at around 9 am on August 25. She told her she was at the immigration centre and would speak later. At 9.14 am, the tragedy struck. Unaware about it, we kept waiting for her call, but later media reports shocked us. We tried calling her, but she could not be contacted,” the family told PTI.

Her family has also remained in contact with her husband in Finland while efforts continue to trace her whereabouts.

Officials are also working to establish the status of other members of the pilgrimage group who may have been affected by the flash floods.

The families of the missing women have sought assistance from government authorities as efforts continue to locate Indians reported missing following the disaster in Nepal.