Read the full family appeal letter (PDF).

This petition summarises the urgent humanitarian actions requested by affected families: strengthened search and recovery, coordinated forensic identification, clear family communication, and a dignified documentation process.

Supporting document — full family appeal letter (PDF): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HK7k1xhLcLgr11hOBbMw5MydJ8DlPEIQ/view?usp=drivesdk

We are relatives and family members of Indian pilgrims travelling with Richa Tours who remain unaccounted for following the catastrophic flash floods of 26 August 2026 near the Nepal–Tibet border.

We appeal respectfully and urgently to the Government of India and the Embassy of India in Kathmandu to work with the Government of Nepal, and with the relevant Chinese authorities where appropriate, so that every possible effort is made to locate, recover and identify missing Indian citizens.

Our families are living with profound uncertainty. We seek a coordinated humanitarian response that is transparent, scientifically sound and centred on the dignity of every missing person and their family.

We respectfully request:

1. Intensified specialist search, rescue and recovery support
India should urgently offer and facilitate specialised search, recovery, engineering, debris-removal, technical-search and forensic capabilities, in coordination with Nepal. Where the affected border area requires it, India should also seek practical cooperation with the Chinese authorities. The response should include a sustained, safe assessment of the hardest-hit sites, using the best available expertise and equipment.

2. A coordinated DNA and forensic-identification process
We ask for the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), or another appropriate Indian forensic body, to support and coordinate a rigorous DNA-based identification process with Nepalese authorities. Families in Kathmandu have begun to receive access to DNA collection. Families in India also need prompt access to designated government laboratories, a clear chain of custody, secure transfer of samples and regular updates on the identification process.

3. Clear, compassionate communication and a family liaison
We request that the Embassy and the Government of India designate a senior nodal officer for affected families. Families need reliable, regular updates on the search, recovery, identification and repatriation process. A single verified channel can prevent misinformation and spare families further distress.

4. A time-bound framework for documentation and support
Families need clear guidance on the legal and administrative process for missing-person and, where required, deceased-status documentation; the anticipated timelines; and the assistance available for identification, final rites, repatriation and related practical matters. Where recovery or identification is not possible after an exhaustive search, there must be a lawful and compassionate pathway that does not leave families in indefinite uncertainty.

5. Dignified access to clearer identification material
We ask the Embassy and MEA to request that Nepal Police provide higher-resolution photographs of unidentified deceased persons through a secure, dignified official process, with appropriate privacy safeguards. Better-quality images may help families identify distinguishing features and provide vital information to authorities.

This is not a political demand. It is a humanitarian appeal from families seeking the right to know what has happened to their loved ones, and to bring every possible person home with certainty and dignity.

We call on the Government of India and the Embassy of India in Kathmandu to act urgently, coordinate at the highest appropriate level, and keep affected families informed throughout this process.