The search continues for 33 British nationals, including a South London man, who remain unaccounted for after catastrophic flash floods triggered by a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border. Nabhi Das from Streatham, a former University of Kent graduate, was in Nepal when the disaster struck and has not been heard from since, family members confirmed.
Among those also missing is Hema Amin from Croydon, who travelled to Nepal with her sister Hemangini Pate over the weekend. Her husband, Sunil Amin, last made contact with her on Monday at around 4.30pm. Speaking to Sky News, he said: "I keep trying to call her. I've been trying, trying, trying. We are waiting for replies but nothing is coming through. We're having no joy."
Devastation in Rasuwa region
The flood hit during the early hours of Wednesday in the Rasuwa region, north of the capital Kathmandu, when a torrential wall of water standing 650ft high ripped through the valley. Nepali authorities described the scenes as "devastation beyond imagination." Nearly 400 people have lost their lives, with more than 900 reported missing. The confirmed death toll has risen to 389, a figure widely anticipated to increase.
Screen recordings of surveillance camera footage posted on Chinese social media platforms reportedly show flash flooding hitting the Gyirong Port in the Tibet Autonomous Region on August 26, 2026. The location was verified by AFP using satellite and streetview data, but original posts could not be identified. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that "a mudslide disaster on the Nepalese side resulted in major casualties and missing people at the Gyirong Port."
British nationals unaccounted for
Among those unaccounted for are a 13-year-old British girl and a 14-year-old boy, both missing since the glacier collapse on Wednesday morning. Sarada Simkhada, a senior nurse at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Kent, departed for Nepal last Saturday on a religious journey and has not been heard from since. She relocated to Britain more than 20 years ago and is regarded as a dedicated member of her team, according to a friend.
Pramod Poudel from East Sussex is travelling to Nepal in search of his wife, mother, uncle and brother who are feared to have been swept away. He told the BBC: "There is no proper communication so I can't communicate with them. I guess there is no power so they can't charge their phones - so be honest, it's a very hard and difficult time at the moment." He added: "I have seen pictures of where my home town used to be...and there is nothing there now."
Trekking groups affected
Tour operator Alpine Eco Trek has been unable to reach a group of 12 British nationals who had booked a tour to Mount Kailash and were in the area when the floods struck. Manager Kumar Adhikari said: "I feel so sad. We are just thinking about what to do next...We are in pain at the moment, deep pain."
The Trekkers' Society, which organises tours across Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan, revealed that nine UK nationals on a pilgrimage have gone missing after crossing the Nepal-Tibet border. The organisation confirmed that four males, aged between 14 and 50, and five females aged 40 to 53 remain unaccounted for. Himalayan Glacier US stated it had lost contact with a group of 47 guests and staff - including two Brits - who were undertaking a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. Two additional companies, Kailash Journeys and Fishtail Tours, also confirmed that British nationals were among those unaccounted for.
UK government response
King Charles expressed that he and the Queen were "heartbroken" and extended their "most profound sympathy" to all those affected. Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed that the UK has committed £5 million to assist the Nepalese government, calling it a "very distressing and devastating situation." Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband disclosed he had held direct talks with his Nepali counterpart, vowing that Britain would do all it could to "help Nepal in its hour of need."
The UK embassy in Nepal, in a collective statement with Australia, the EU, Finland, France, Norway and Switzerland, urged British citizens to "exercise caution in affected areas." Tom Fletcher, the UN's humanitarian chief, labelled the flooding as "horrifying", confirming that emergency personnel had been dispatched and an initial $2 million (£1.5 million) in disaster relief funding released to provide emergency medical treatment, accommodation and water supplies.
The Geological Survey determined that a magnitude 5.2 seismic event, triggered by a "glacial collapse and debris flow", took place near the border at 08:37 local time on Wednesday, with the seismic energy generated by a landslide rather than an earthquake.
