Families of Pilgrims Trapped by Nepal Floods Plead for Updates as Rescue Efforts Continue

Relatives of thousands of Hindu pilgrims who were swept away by the monsoon floods in central Nepal are desperate for news of their loved ones. The sudden deluge, triggered by unprecedented rainfall in the Kathmandu Valley, inundated the historic Pashupatinath temple complex and surrounding campsites, leaving many families stranded without communication. Humanitarian NGOs, including the Red Cross and local faith‑based groups, have set up information desks in Kathmandu, urging families to register missing persons and providing a hotline that receives over 1,200 calls daily. “We need to know if they are alive, if they are safe,” said Maya Shrestha, whose brother was among the missing. International aid agencies have pledged additional rescue boats and medical teams, but officials warn that the rugged terrain and ongoing landslides could delay the search for weeks.