Northern Virginia Hikers Among Missing After Nepal’s Deadly Floods

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — A group of hikers from Northern Virginia is among those unaccounted for following catastrophic flash floods in Nepal. The incident occurred as the group, including community leaders, journeyed towards Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailash.

The ten men, who had trained extensively for the trek, were accompanied by a local guide and two support staff. They were caught in the disaster when a suspected magnitude 5.2 landslide, triggered by a glacial collapse and severe debris flow, struck the Nepal-China border region, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Local authorities report over 390 fatalities and more than 1,400 people missing across the affected area. Families in Northern Virginia, including five from Loudoun County, are desperately seeking information about their loved ones.

Sneha Sudhir, whose husband is part of the expedition, shared that the last contact was a photograph of his Nepal exit visa sent near the border as the flooding intensified. We are trying to reach their cell numbers. Nothing is coming up, Sudhir said. it is been difficult. I’m pretty sure 10 families, nobody has heard anything. They’re just waiting for something to come in.

The wives of the missing hikers have formed a support network. The group is among approximately 90 U.S. citizens unaccounted for after the disaster. The U.S. State Department is unaware of any American fatalities but has confirmed the rescue of three U.S. citizens.

Family members have reached out to the embassies of Nepal, China, and India, as well as federal lawmakers including Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam for assistance. Subramanyam confirmed his office is in contact with official channels to coordinate search efforts.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)