Ex-DRDO chief among 31 Hyderabad pilgrims safe after escaping Nepal flash flood

A group of 31 Hyderabad pilgrims, including former DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy, escaped the flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border and are now in Saga. Their narrow escape comes as floods in the Rasuwa-Gyirong region have disrupted routes and stranded other travellers.A group of 31 Hyderabad pilgrims, including former DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy, escaped the flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border.Thirty-one pilgrims from Hyderabad, including former DRDO Chairman Dr G Satheesh Reddy, are safe after narrowly escaping a flash flood that struck the Nepal-Tibet border region during their Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.The pilgrims crossed the flood-affected area on Wednesday morning, just hours before the flash flood struck. They later became stranded in Saga, a key halt on the route to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, in Tibet.According to the information available, all 31 members of the group are safe. They are currently in Saga and are exploring their return to Hyderabad through the Tibet-China route instead of travelling back through the flood-hit Nepal route.A member of the group said in a video that the group had completed the Kailash Parikrama and safely reached Darchen. He said the pilgrims were then gathered near the Lake Manasarovar base camp and were heading towards Saga. He said people back home had remained anxious and had called throughout the night to ask about their family members. He assured them that there was no need to worry and that everyone was safe and sound.The group member said the pilgrims would return through whichever exit route China decides to keep open. He said they were moving forward while taking all necessary safety precautions. He also showed the members of the group on camera and said their family members could see that they were safe. He identified Lobsang and Nepali staff manager Rajender among the group's staff and said some prominent individuals, including Satish Reddy, were also present with them.He said the group would take their support in case of any emergency and would continue moving forward with a positive mindset. He added that no accidents or untoward incidents had occurred so far.The group member said unexpected events could happen without warning but stressed that the pilgrims were taking all necessary precautions to return safely. He expressed confidence that the group would return happily and safely, invoking Kailashnath and Hanumanthudu.The flash floods in the Rasuwa-Gyirong region along the Nepal-Tibet border have disrupted road connectivity and left several pilgrims and travellers stranded or unaccounted for.The Hyderabad group's narrow escape comes amid continuing efforts to trace pilgrims caught in the disaster and restore communication and transport links in the affected region.- EndsPublished By: Akshat TrivediPublished On: Aug 27, 2026 15:05 IST