Three members of a family from Kanpur who embarked on the sacred Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage have gone missing under mysterious circumstances near the Nepal and Tibet border. Their communication lines were completely severed amid severe floods and landslides wreaking havoc across the region. None of the three have been reachable since the evening of August 25. More than four days have elapsed since the disappearance, leaving relatives back in Kanpur gripped by intense worry and fear as they remain completely in the dark.
The missing family members
The missing pilgrims have been identified as Pankaj Mishra, who resides in the United States, his wife sister Ragni Mishra, and another family member named Poonam Mishra. All three had travelled to Nepal together to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar expedition. After reaching the vicinity of the Nepal-Tibet border, all communication with them abruptly stopped, plunging their loved ones into grief and anxiety. Relatives are desperately praying for the safe return of their family members and have formally appealed to the administration for immediate assistance. The family has urged that rescue agencies and relevant authorities be deployed in the border zone to locate the trio at the earliest.
How the journey began
Praveen Dwivedi, a resident of P Road in Kanpur, shared details stating that his brother-in-law Pankaj Mishra, elder sister Ragni Mishra, and Poonam Mishra had set out for the Kailash Mansarovar yatra. According to the family, the pilgrimage schedule commenced on August 18. The three reached Delhi on August 19 and subsequently arrived in Kathmandu on August 20. After paying their respects and offering prayers at the historic Pashupatinath Temple in the capital of Nepal, they officially began the Kailash Mansarovar leg of the journey. Reports indicate that the trek required navigating roughly three days of travel and covering approximately 52 kilometers on foot.
The last video call
According to Praveen Dwivedi, a video call took place with the family members on August 25 at around 4:30 PM. During that conversation, the three informed their relatives that they were currently crossing the Tibet border. At that point, the family had no inkling of any impending danger or untoward incident. However, the situation transformed drastically within hours. When the family attempted to reconnect via phone around 8 PM that night, the calls failed to go through. Persistent attempts to reach them through phone calls and alternative channels yielded no success. Since that final video call, the family has not heard the voices of their loved ones.
Natural disasters heighten anxiety
Reports of natural calamities including floods and landslides originating from the region where the trio was travelling have multiplied the anxieties of the relatives waiting in Kanpur. Information has emerged indicating that heavy floods and landslips in Nepal and surrounding border districts have severely disrupted movement and connectivity across multiple locations. Relatives expressed that every passing day has grown exceedingly difficult since contact was lost. Eyes remain glued to mobile phones with the lingering hope that a voice might break through from the other side, yet four days have passed without any established connection.
Plea for administrative intervention
The family has demanded that officials take immediate steps to trace the three Indian travelers stranded in the border region. According to the relatives, administrative authorities have assured them that the family will be notified the moment any official information is received. Meanwhile, efforts are underway through relevant agencies to establish communication channels in the border sectors and gather information regarding the whereabouts of the pilgrims. The distressed family continues to implore the administration for urgent intervention.
