Families of Missing Pilgrims Demand Answers from China After Tibet-Nepal Disaster

BEIJING: Families of pilgrims who remain missing following a catastrophic mudslide in the Tibet-Nepal border region are demanding greater information from Chinese authorities about the fate of their relatives, amid concerns over a lack of communication regarding the victims.

The disaster struck about 10 days ago in the Himalayan region, killing more than 1,300 people and leaving more than 5,600 missing. Among those unaccounted for are hundreds of foreign nationals, including pilgrims who had travelled to Tibet.

Among the missing is Priyanka Choudhary, an Indian-born Finnish citizen who was returning from a Hindu pilgrimage in Tibet when the disaster occurred near a border crossing with Nepal. Her family has been seeking information about her whereabouts and has expressed frustration over the limited information available from the Chinese side.

Families and diplomats have raised concerns about what they describe as an information gap in the aftermath of the disaster. While Nepalese authorities have been providing regular updates and carrying out DNA identification efforts, relatives say they have received limited information about the identification and recovery process on the Chinese side.

China has briefed diplomats from 23 countries and deployed DNA experts to Nepal as part of efforts to identify victims. However, diplomats and families have said that Beijing has not clearly outlined how DNA identification will be conducted or provided materials such as video footage and facial-recognition data that could assist in identifying those missing.

The disaster has intensified anguish among families who remain uncertain about whether their relatives survived or were among those killed. Relatives are calling for greater transparency and closer coordination between Chinese and Nepalese authorities to establish the whereabouts of those still missing.

The continuing uncertainty comes as rescue and recovery operations remain underway across areas affected by the devastating mudslide and flooding. The scale of the disaster has also prompted international assistance, including efforts to locate survivors and identify victims.