Among the hundreds of tourists missing in the Nepal floods, the largest contingent — at least 100 people — are from India, according to a preliminary count from officials in Nepal and India. Many were traveling to or from Mount Kailash, a Himalayan peak near the Nepal-Tibet border, revered by Hindus as the spiritual home of Shiva. The pilgrimage had recently resumed after disruptions from the Covid pandemic and border clashes.

The influential Indian spiritual guru Sadhguru said on X that 77 people on tours organized by his Isha Foundation were at an immigration center at the Nepal-Tibet border when floodwaters came. He shared surveillance footage, verified by The New York Times, showing water sweeping people away. "There has been no official information on the whereabouts of any of the people who were at the immigration office," he said, adding that they are working with authorities and ready to join rescue efforts.

At least 50 pilgrims were in the region on another tour organized by a travel agency in the South Indian city of Kumbakonam. Friends and relatives of Syed Umar Farooq, the travel agent leading that tour, said they had not been able to contact him since the group left their hotel early in the morning. "We can't reach them, and their vehicles have not been found," said R. Daniel Ajit, a friend. Mohammad Hussain, a cousin, said the family had spoken to him the night before about plans to go to the border. They did reach another group of about 20 Indian pilgrims, who reported they were safe.