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Trump pledges US support for Nepal as dozens of Indian Americans remain missing
Aug 31, 2026
đź“Ť Phliadelphia,PA, USA
President Donald Trump has pledged broad U.S. assistance to Nepal as rescuers continue searching for people missing after devastating flash floods struck the Nepal-Tibet border region. Describing the destruction as “terrible,” Trump said the United States had offered Nepal whatever assistance it needed as authorities confronted widespread devastation across the mountainous region.
The disaster swept through parts of Nepal’s Rasuwa district and neighboring areas of Tibet, carrying away homes, hotels, roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Powerful torrents of water, mud, ice and debris made several areas difficult to access and disrupted communications.
The United States has already announced $500,000 in emergency aid through Catholic Relief Services to support shelter, relief supplies, clean water, sanitation and hygiene assistance for affected communities. The State Department is also sending a disaster response adviser to help coordinate relief operations.
At the same time, U.S. officials are working to locate roughly 90 Americans who remain unaccounted for following the disaster. Many of those missing are believed to have been traveling through the region as part of treks or religious pilgrimages to Mount Kailash, a sacred destination for Hindus and Buddhists.
Among those missing are at least 22 Indian-American travelers associated with the Isha Foundation. The group had reportedly been returning from Mount Kailash when floodwaters struck the Gyirong immigration area near the border.
Families across the United States have been anxiously seeking information about relatives who have not been heard from since the flooding. Some families have contacted U.S. government officials, while others have appealed to Nepalese, Indian and Chinese authorities for help.
A separate group of 10 men from Northern Virginia who were traveling toward Mount Kailash also remains missing. Nine are U.S. citizens, while another member is a Canadian citizen. Relatives said they have been unable to establish phone contact with the group since the disaster.
The families of Deepak and Madhu Ahuja of Dallas have similarly appealed for assistance. The couple had traveled to Mount Kailash for a long-planned trip marking Deepak Ahuja’s 60th birthday.
In another case, Radhika and Akash Sharma are traveling to Nepal as efforts continue to locate their parents, Ramesh and Neelam Sharma of New York. They said they intend to take part in the search and assist with efforts to obtain information about the couple.
U.S. officials have emphasized that locating and assisting American citizens remains a priority. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration would continue efforts to rescue every American who could be reached.
The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is coordinating with local authorities and assisting Americans affected by the disaster. The State Department has also established channels for families searching for missing relatives.
Representative Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia said his office remains in contact with the State Department and is pressing for a comprehensive search-and-rescue operation. He noted that several missing travelers are constituents from Northern Virginia.
The disaster has also raised concerns about further flooding in the region. Newly formed lakes, blocked waterways and unstable terrain could create additional dangers for rescuers and communities.
Authorities believe a glacier collapse may have contributed to the sudden surge of water, mud and debris, although scientists and officials are still examining exactly how the catastrophe unfolded.
Search-and-rescue teams continued operations as difficult terrain and damaged infrastructure complicated access to affected areas. Families of missing travelers remain hopeful that continued international cooperation will help locate their loved ones.
The unfolding crisis has prompted a coordinated response involving Nepalese authorities, U.S. diplomatic officials and other international partners. For families waiting for answers, the immediate priority remains clear: finding those still missing and bringing them safely home.
The disaster swept through parts of Nepal’s Rasuwa district and neighboring areas of Tibet, carrying away homes, hotels, roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Powerful torrents of water, mud, ice and debris made several areas difficult to access and disrupted communications.
The United States has already announced $500,000 in emergency aid through Catholic Relief Services to support shelter, relief supplies, clean water, sanitation and hygiene assistance for affected communities. The State Department is also sending a disaster response adviser to help coordinate relief operations.
At the same time, U.S. officials are working to locate roughly 90 Americans who remain unaccounted for following the disaster. Many of those missing are believed to have been traveling through the region as part of treks or religious pilgrimages to Mount Kailash, a sacred destination for Hindus and Buddhists.
Among those missing are at least 22 Indian-American travelers associated with the Isha Foundation. The group had reportedly been returning from Mount Kailash when floodwaters struck the Gyirong immigration area near the border.
Families across the United States have been anxiously seeking information about relatives who have not been heard from since the flooding. Some families have contacted U.S. government officials, while others have appealed to Nepalese, Indian and Chinese authorities for help.
A separate group of 10 men from Northern Virginia who were traveling toward Mount Kailash also remains missing. Nine are U.S. citizens, while another member is a Canadian citizen. Relatives said they have been unable to establish phone contact with the group since the disaster.
The families of Deepak and Madhu Ahuja of Dallas have similarly appealed for assistance. The couple had traveled to Mount Kailash for a long-planned trip marking Deepak Ahuja’s 60th birthday.
In another case, Radhika and Akash Sharma are traveling to Nepal as efforts continue to locate their parents, Ramesh and Neelam Sharma of New York. They said they intend to take part in the search and assist with efforts to obtain information about the couple.
U.S. officials have emphasized that locating and assisting American citizens remains a priority. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration would continue efforts to rescue every American who could be reached.
The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is coordinating with local authorities and assisting Americans affected by the disaster. The State Department has also established channels for families searching for missing relatives.
Representative Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia said his office remains in contact with the State Department and is pressing for a comprehensive search-and-rescue operation. He noted that several missing travelers are constituents from Northern Virginia.
The disaster has also raised concerns about further flooding in the region. Newly formed lakes, blocked waterways and unstable terrain could create additional dangers for rescuers and communities.
Authorities believe a glacier collapse may have contributed to the sudden surge of water, mud and debris, although scientists and officials are still examining exactly how the catastrophe unfolded.
Search-and-rescue teams continued operations as difficult terrain and damaged infrastructure complicated access to affected areas. Families of missing travelers remain hopeful that continued international cooperation will help locate their loved ones.
The unfolding crisis has prompted a coordinated response involving Nepalese authorities, U.S. diplomatic officials and other international partners. For families waiting for answers, the immediate priority remains clear: finding those still missing and bringing them safely home.
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