03 September,2026 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Dinesh Vaktania
Venkatraman Balakrishnan and Chitra Venkatraman, who have gone missing in Nepal. Pics/By Special Arrangement
Two brothers from Goregaon, Srikant Nathan and Santosh Swaminathan, have landed in Nepal to search for their sister and her husband, who went missing ever since catastrophic floods ravaged the Himalayan country on August 26. The missing couple, Chitra Venkatraman and Venkatraman Balakrishnan, are from Sydney, Australia, and had gone on a spiritual tour of Mount Kailash in Tibet and Nepal.
[popcorn number="Aug 27" desc="Day brothers arrived in Nepal" class="Default"]
(From left) Goregaon-based brothers Santosh Swaminathan and Srikant Nathan
The brothers, Srikant and Santosh, whose flight touched down at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on August 27, told mid-day that Nepal is completely flooded, there are no roads visible, and many areas are under 30 to 40 feet of water.
According to the brothers, Chitra and Balakrishnan, a businessman, had gone on a tour of Nepal organised by Himalayan Glacier Group along with 15 other Australians. The tourists were staying at Royal Himalayan Hotel in Shyafru Bensi, a town in the Rasuwa district, among the worst flood-affected spots. The brothers believe the resort is completely submerged.
A missing poster created by the family of the couple
Chitra's sister, Swadha Purushothama, who resides in Colaba, told mid-day, "Just one hour before the flood struck, I spoke with my sister over the phone. She told me that they were going to the airport in some time and would be returning home. A few hours later, I heard about the flood and checked the news. I called my sister and brother-in-law, but their phones were switched off. Every day, I am calling them, and we are praying that they return home safely."
The group of Australian tourists, who were staying at the Royal Himalayan Hotel in Shyafru Bensi. Pics/By Special Arrangement
Srikant said, "Somehow, we reached Kathmandu, but we can't proceed towards the hotel, as there are no roads. We are seeking help from the Nepali Army, which is searching for missing people using helicopters. However, they haven't been helping us. It's impossible to travel due to waterlogging, with water levels reaching up to 30 feet in many places."
He added, "The Nepal Army has set up a rescue centre, and they are providing treatment to many injured people. We also checked there but didn't find our sister and brother-in-law. We are praying that they are alive and safe."
