Many pilgrims unfortunately encountered deadly floods that swept across Nepal and Tibet on the 26th, resulting in multiple deaths and missing persons. Logadasini Raman, a 26-year-old from Malaysia, said that four of her family members were traveling with a Nepalese travel agency, and there were 17 Malaysians in the group.
In an interview with AFP in Kuala Lumpur, Raman said that her parents, aunt, and uncle had spent several months planning this pilgrimage trip. “They felt that this was the right time to undertake the pilgrimage.”
“Their purpose was very simple, which is why they wanted the whole family to go together.”
The last time she exchanged WhatsApp messages with her father was shortly after dawn in Nepal on Wednesday. Since then, the family has not received any further news.
Raman said that the travel agency informed her that the last contact with the group was at 8:18 a.m. Nepal time, when they were moving towards the Nepal-China border.
Soon after that, floods struck the area where they were last located.
She said: “I am extremely anxious. My only hope is to hear that they are safe.”
She called on all parties to help search for her parents and the other Malaysian pilgrims' whereabouts, saying, “This is the only wish of our entire family.”
According to AFP, Mount Kailash is extremely sacred to Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains.
Hindus believe Mount Kailash is the abode of Shiva and Parvati, while Tibetan Buddhists associate it with Mount Sumeru, which they see as the center of the universe.
Climbing this 6,638-meter-high mountain is prohibited. Instead, pilgrims undertake a roughly 52-kilometer circumambulation trek around the base, which usually takes walkers about three days.