Dr. Radhika Sharma, a New York-based gastroenterology fellow, is desperately searching for her missing parents, Ramesh and Neelam, who were caught in Wednesday's catastrophic flash floods in Nepal while on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. According to the latest reports, at least 270 people have died and 826 are still missing in Nepal, with 65 Americans among them. Dr. Sharma is relying on social media to gather information about her parents' whereabouts, describing the past 24 hours as "the worst" of her life. The floods were caused by a glacier collapse that triggered an ice avalanche, resulting in widespread destruction and damage to infrastructure.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A catastrophic flash flood occurred on August 26, 2026, on the Nepal-Tibet border, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The disaster was triggered by a collapsed glacier, which sent massive amounts of water and debris downstream, resulting in the deaths of at least 273 people and leaving over 1,300 missing. The floodwaters swept through several communities, including Syapru Besi and Timure in the mountainous district of Rasuwa, with many villages and infrastructure destroyed. Rescue teams were deployed to search for survivors, but their efforts were hindered by the remote location and challenging terrain.
The disaster also affected Tibet, where a mudslide hit the land border crossing at Gyirong Port, causing major casualties and disruptions to transportation and communication networks. Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered "all-out" efforts to search for those missing and to strengthen monitoring and early warning systems to prevent similar disasters in the future.
The Nepal Tourism Board reported that 25 Canadians were among those missing, and officials warned of a high risk of secondary collapses or landslides as rain continued in the affected area. The disaster has highlighted the issue of rapidly melting Himalayan ice and the need for better preparedness and emergency response measures in the region.
Written for “Nepal Tibet Flood Disaster” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 57 other(s) covering the same event.
Radhika Sharma said her parents Ramesh, 65, and Neelam, 64, are “missing and unaccounted” for after the couple was caught in Wednesday’s floods and landslides while on a pilgrimage to the sacred peak of Mount Kailash.
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couple → say → Kailash
Sharma revealed she hasn’t heard from her parents since they crossed the Nepal-China border at 8 a.m local time Wednesday – some 40 minutes before the floods hit.
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floods → reveal → a.m
“It’s been probably over 24 hours, and probably been the worst 24 hours of my life, my brother’s life,” she told NBC.
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she → tell → NBC
“We’re just waiting to hear from them, and just any information, honestly.”
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We → wait → them
Sharma said she has been put on the ground with people on the ground in Nepal thanks to social media.
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she → say → media
On Wednesday, she turned to her social platforms for help finding her parents.
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she → turn → parents
“If you have any direct contacts in Nepal, Gyirong/Tibet, local hospitals, rescue operations, government/local media, anyone on the ground – PLEASE DM/contact me immediately,” Radhika wrote on X on Wednesday.
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Radhika → have → Wednesday
“I would greatly appreciate any help.
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I → appreciate → help
Sharma, who describes herself as a “New Yorker always,” graduated from The Bronx High School of Science in 2012 before she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in biology at Stony Brook University in 2016, according to her LinkedIn.
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she → describe → LinkedIn
She then studied at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine between 2016 and 2020, where she received a doctorate.
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she → study → doctorate
For the past six years, she has been enrolled at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville.
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she → enrol → Jacksonville
Wednesday’s floods have left at least 270 people dead and 826 missing in Nepal.
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826 → leave → Nepal
Three fatalities have been reported in Tibet and 558 people are missing, according to local authorities.
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people → report → authorities
In Nepal, 644 foreign nationals are missing — 65 coming from the USA.
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65 → miss → USA
Authorities confirmed that 178 tourists from India are among those who are unaccounted for.
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who → confirm → those
Tourists from more than 30 countries are thought to be missing.
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Tourists → think → countries
Nepal’s foreign minister Shisir Khanal told the country’s parliament Wednesday that initial reports suggested the floods, which hit around 8:40 a.m. local time, may have been the result of an avalanche triggered by an earthquake.
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which → tell → earthquake
The US Geological Survey reported a 4.4-magnitude quake around 41 miles north of Kathmandu before it later confirmed no quake had actually struck.
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quake → report → Kathmandu
It’s now thought a glacier collapse was behind the flooding.
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collapse → think → flooding
A chunk of ice snapped off a glacier high in the Himalayas and fell from a height of around 17,000 feet, smashing into a valley floor and triggering an ice avalanche, Al Jazeera reported.
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Jazeera → snap → avalanche
As the ice was falling, it was picking up debris and it struck the Lhende River – located around 12 miles from the Nepal-China border.
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it → fall → border
The debris accumulation initially caused the river to be blocked up before the dam gave way, sending a violent torrent downstream.
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dam → cause → torrent
Around 25 miles of roads were washed away, with 19 bridges destroyed.
Water levels on the Trishuli River rose by 27 feet in just half an hour as a result of the surge.
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levels → wash → surge
Dozens of homes were swept away by the crushing masses of water that overwhelmed villages.
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that → sweep → villages
Survivors were forced to cling to mango trees to avoid being swept away – as they watched their homes being destroyed.
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homes → force → trees
Around 10,000 homes require immediate relief, according to the UN, and there has been a major international response.
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homes → require → UN
The US is sending a disaster response adviser and has set aside $500,000 in assistance, “supporting emergency shelter, relief items, and water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance to flood-affected communities.”
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US → send → communities
“The United States extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the devastating flash floods in the Rasuwa district of Nepal.
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who → extend → Nepal
Our thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster,” the State Department said.
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Department → affect → disaster
“The State Department is closely monitoring the situation and is deploying a disaster response advisor to the region to support response efforts.”
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Department → monitor → efforts
India has sent 22,046 pounds of disaster-relief supplies, including temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and medicines.
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India → send → shelters
Around $1.24 million in funding has been put aside by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
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million → put → Societies
EU Commission President, Ursula Von Der Leyen, said the institution stands ready to “mobilize further European assistance.”
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institution → say → assistance
With Post wires.
Ramesh and Neelam Sharma are missing after being caught up in the floods that hit the Nepal-Tibet border.
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that → miss → border
Roads were turned to sludge and vehicles were left tilting.
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vehicles → turn → sludge
Survivors ran past homes that have been damaged in the floods.
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that → run → floods
AFP via Getty Images
A security official and a sniffer dog search for people who may be trapped.
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who → trap → people
Nepalese army officers carried out rescue operations, carrying one survivor on a stretcher to a helicopter.
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officers → carry → helicopter
