UK Malayali Woman From Kollam Still Missing After Nepal Floods; Family Waits Anxiously for Good News

LONDON Sept. 1: A Malayali woman from the UK remains missing days after devastating flash floods struck parts of Nepal, leaving her family in London anxiously waiting for news and hoping she will be found safe.

Sunanda Manirajan, 63, a native of Kongal in Paravur, Kollam district, was travelling in Nepal with a group of international pilgrims when contact with her was lost. According to her relatives, Sunanda was the only Malayali member of the group.

Sunanda and her family have been permanent residents of London for the past 27 years. Before undertaking the pilgrimage, she had been working as a security officer at an airport in the British capital.

She had travelled from London on August 22 as part of a pilgrimage to the Himalayan region, including the sacred Mount Kailash route. The family said they last communicated with her through WhatsApp before noon on August 25.

According to information available to the family, Sunanda’s last WhatsApp contact was at 11.58 am on August 25, which was also recorded as the last time she was active on the messaging platform.

During her final conversation with relatives, Sunanda reportedly told them that her group was waiting to cross a border. After that message, the family received no further communication from her.

Initially, relatives believed that the lack of contact could be due to poor mobile phone coverage in the remote mountainous region. However, their concerns deepened after they were informed by the group’s travel agent that a flash flood had struck the area where the pilgrims were travelling.

According to information provided to the family, the group was waiting near a border bridge when the flash flood occurred. They were subsequently informed that members of the group had gone missing.

The last available information suggested that the group was in the Rasuwagadhi area near the Nepal border when the disaster struck.

Sunanda’s name has reportedly been included in a list of missing persons released by Nepalese authorities. Her family is now desperately awaiting further information about her whereabouts and the fate of the other members of the pilgrimage group.

The family has registered Sunanda as missing and has contacted the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, NORKA and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. They are also seeking assistance from British diplomatic authorities.

Relatives said arrangements were reportedly being considered to collect DNA samples from Sunanda’s children, who are in the UK, to assist with identification if required.

The family has also provided authorities with Sunanda’s identification details. She is approximately 154 cm tall, with dark brown eyes and black hair, according to information shared by her relatives.

As several days have passed since contact was lost, the family continues to wait anxiously for official confirmation about her fate.

“We are still hoping and praying for good news,” relatives said, as efforts continue to trace Sunanda and other missing members of the group.

ISKCON Reports Loss of Contact With International Pilgrims

The disappearance has also raised concern within the international Hare Krishna community. ISKCON organisers associated with the pilgrimage said on social media that contact had been lost with a group of devotees, including Sunanda, who had travelled to Nepal for a pilgrimage to the sacred alpine lake of Gosainkunda.

According to the organisation, the missing group includes pilgrims from the UK, South Africa and Ireland. Sunanda is believed to be the only Malayali member of the group.

The Hare Krishna group Dandavats said efforts were continuing to locate the missing pilgrims.

In an urgent appeal, the ISKCON Nepal spiritual community said it had lost contact with a group of 17 international devotees who were undertaking a pilgrimage to Gosainkunda.

“The missing pilgrims originate from three countries: the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Ireland,” the organisation said in its appeal.

ISKCON said the difficult mountain terrain and lack of reliable mobile connectivity in the region had resulted in all direct communication with the group being lost, causing growing concern among family members, local authorities and the wider Hare Krishna community.

The organisation appealed to government authorities and rescue teams to provide urgent assistance in tracing the missing pilgrims and ensuring their safety.

“We humbly request the concerned authorities to kindly help locate and ensure their safety,” the organisation said.

Difficult Terrain and Severe Flooding

Gosainkunda, located within Langtang National Park at an altitude of around 14,100 feet, is one of Nepal’s important Hindu pilgrimage destinations. The high-altitude lake attracts pilgrims and trekkers from Nepal, India and other countries.

However, the mountainous terrain is also difficult to access, particularly during periods of severe weather. Trekking routes in the region can be affected by heavy rain, landslides, flooding and sudden changes in weather conditions, while mobile connectivity in remote areas remains limited.

The flash floods that struck areas near the Nepal-Tibet border caused widespread destruction, sweeping through parts of northern and central Nepal. The disaster damaged homes, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure, while leaving many people dead or unaccounted for.

For Sunanda’s family in London, however, the focus remains firmly on one hope — that she will be found alive.

With search and rescue efforts continuing in difficult conditions, her relatives are waiting anxiously for any information from authorities, rescue teams or diplomatic missions.

“We are still waiting for good news,” a family member said. “Our only hope is that she will be found safe.”

Names of the missing from Hare Krishna pilgrimage: Anitha Devi Maharaj, Surendranath Maharaj, Kavita Haldia, Pavan Haldia, Nabhi Nandan Das, Sunanda Manirajan, Hema Sunil Amin, Janet Pillay, Vivagnathan Pillay, Surabhi Manmath Padhy, Santosh Sahu, Syna Kumari Sahu, Spandan Sahu, Hemangini Patel, Bipin Patel, Mala Patel, Veena Bhaskaran

🔎 IDENTIFICATION DETAILS
👤 Name: Sunanda Manirajan
🎂 Age: 63 years
📏 Height: 154 cm
👀 Eyes: Dark Brown
💇 Hair: Black
📍 Last Known Location: Rasuwagadhi, Tibet/Nepal Border
🥾 Travel Group: Alpine Eco Trek
Her family is urgently seeking information about her whereabouts. Anyone who may have seen Sunanda or has information related to her movements is requested to contact the authorities or her family immediately.
📞 CONTACT NUMBERS
🚔 Nepal Police Hotline: 100
📞 District Police Office, Rasuwa: +977-11-422077
🇬🇧 British Embassy, Kathmandu: +977-1-4411747
📧 consular.ktm@fcdo.gov.uk
👨‍👩‍👧 Family Contacts:
Meera Manirajan: 07474287996
Sumi Manirajan: 07532683015
Please share this information widely. Someone in the area may have seen her or have information that could help authorities and her family locate