Kollam native among missing in Nepal floods; family awaits news

KOLLAM: A native of Kollam is among those reported missing in the flash floods in Nepal. The missing is Sunanda Manirajan (63) of Kongaal in Kollam’s Paravur. She and her family have been permanent residents of London for the past 27 years. She had gone to Nepal for a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.

The group, which included Sunanda, left London on August 22. They had travelled with a company called Alpine Echo Trek. The family last contacted Sunanda via WhatsApp before noon on August 25. She had informed her family that they were waiting to cross the border. There has been no further information about her since then.

The family initially believed that Sunanda was unable to contact them due to network issues. They later knew about the tragedy. Her family said that the travel agent informed them that a flash flood occurred while they were waiting to cross the border bridge and that all members of the group had gone missing. According to the last information received, they were in the Rasuwagadhi area near the border. Sunanda's name has also been included in the list of those missing released by the Nepalese authorities.

ISKCON has also announced on social media that contact has been lost with 16 ISKCON pilgrims, including Sunanda, who had travelled for a pilgrimage to Gosainkunda. The group includes people from Britain, South Africa and Ireland. Sunanda is the only Malayali in the group, according to her family. Sunanda had been working as a security officer at the airport in London.