PTC Web Desk:  A sombre atmosphere prevailed at the Isha Foundation camp in Saga, Tibet, after Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev spoke about 80 members of the foundation who are feared missing following devastating flash floods near the Nepal-Tibet border.

Sadhguru, who is currently in Saga, appeared visibly emotional while speaking about the tragedy. With followers heard crying in the background, he appealed to the Indian and Chinese authorities for permission to travel to Gyirong, one of the worst-affected areas, to assist with rescue efforts and search operations.

Sadhguru struggles to hold back tears

Speaking about the scale of the disaster, Sadhguru said the situation appeared extremely serious and described the incident as a “terrible and extraordinary event”.

The 80-member group was returning from the Kailash pilgrimage when communication with them was lost. Sadhguru said the foundation had not received any official confirmation about their condition but expressed concern over the extent of the destruction.

“I have tried to go there this morning, but there is practically no way to get there,” he said, explaining that roads and other routes to the affected area had been severely disrupted.

Group was at Gyirong Immigration Centre

Sadhguru said the pilgrims were at an immigration centre in Gyirong when floodwaters struck. According to his account, the group leader, Ishanga Praveen, sent a message to the foundation at around 9:05 am, saying that the group had reached the immigration centre. Around nine minutes later, at approximately 9:14 am, the building was reportedly hit by the flood. Sadhguru said the entire structure was washed away within seconds.

He recalled that he himself had been at the same immigration centre only about a week earlier.

“The same building where we were for the immigration just a week ago... that entire building is washed away,” he said.

No contact with group after flood

The foundation later noticed that Praveen’s Nepalese phone number had not become active. Sadhguru explained that the phone would normally have connected to a Nepal network if the group had crossed over. The fact that it remained inactive increased concerns about the fate of the pilgrims.

Praveen, he added, had been associated with the Isha Foundation for more than 20 years.

Sadhguru said several hours had passed without any communication from the group, while stressing that there had still been no official confirmation of their status.

Thousands feared affected by floods

The flash floods have caused widespread destruction in areas along the Nepal-Tibet border, sweeping away homes, vehicles and bridges and disrupting communication links. Nepal authorities have reported a large number of casualties and missing people in the disaster. Nepal's Foreign Minister has also said that around 300 Indians are among those reported missing.

Sadhguru said the actual scale of the disaster could be much larger, with the number of people affected potentially reaching 1,500 or more. He suggested that an ice avalanche may have contributed to the devastating floods, although the circumstances remain under assessment.

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Sadhguru seeks permission to reach Gyirong

Sadhguru said efforts were underway to obtain permission for him and a small team to travel to Gyirong. He said the foundation was approaching the Indian, Chinese and US embassies to seek assistance and permission to reach the affected region.

The purpose, he said, was not only to determine the fate of the missing pilgrims but also to see how the team could contribute to rescue and recovery operations.

Back at the Isha Foundation camp in Saga, the atmosphere remained deeply emotional as members waited for information about their colleagues and fellow pilgrims.