Timeline of Saiprasad's Journey and the August 26 Flash Flood

(Times in the timeline are local to the event: India Time or Nepal Time, as applicable)

I have put this timeline together from Saiprasad's messages and photographs, information from his travel group, Nepal immigration records, accounts from officials and other travellers, information shared by families back home, and reports published after the disaster.

I later recognized some of the locations in Saiprasad's photographs from buildings and other details in the background. WhatsApp strips the original EXIF information from shared photographs, so the image files themselves no longer contain their original GPS location data.

All times shown below are local times at the place where the event occurred.

August 20, 2026: Delhi to Kathmandu

By early August 20, Saiprasad had travelled from Hyderabad to Delhi and was continuing to Nepal for the Mount Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage.

At about 7:41 AM India time, he sent me a WhatsApp message saying that he had boarded the flight from Delhi to Kathmandu.

Saiprasad was travelling with a group organized by Kailash Journeys, consisting of 26 guests and 5 staff members, 31 people in all.

He remained in contact with friends and family and continued sharing photographs and videos from the journey.

August 21: Kathmandu

Saiprasad shared photographs from Kathmandu, including pictures taken during temple visits.

The group spent time in Kathmandu before beginning the overland journey north toward the Nepal-Tibet border.

August 25: Travelling north toward Rasuwa

By August 25, the group was travelling north from the Kathmandu area toward Rasuwa and the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.

Saiprasad continued sharing photographs during the journey. These included a photograph from the Park Village Resort area and another taken near a waterfall later in the journey north.

The road eventually reaches Timure, the last main settlement before the Nepal immigration facilities at Ghatte Khola and the Friendship Bridge leading into Tibet.

By the end of August 25, the group had reached or was approaching this border region.

August 26, early morning: Saiprasad's last known communication

He sent two short video clips of a cute deaf dog named Laddu. Saiprasad was affectionately calling the dog beta (my son).

The sounds in the background suggest that the clips may have been recorded around a breakfast or dining area, although the camera is focused almost entirely on Laddu. I have noted the visible floor pattern and the background sounds because they may eventually help identify the lodge or hotel where the videos were recorded.

I regret not calling him. We are so used to WhatsApp messages these days that sometimes we forget to simply make a phone call and get a ton of information in a few minutes that's worth more than 100 messages.

Morning of August 26: A busy morning at the Nepal-Tibet border

The Nepal-Tibet crossing was active that morning. Pilgrims and other travellers were moving through the Timure and Rasuwagadhi border area on their way toward Tibet.

The Nepal immigration office serving the crossing was at Ghatte Khola Bazar, about 1.5 kilometres north of Timure.

From there, travellers continued north toward the Friendship Bridge. The distance from Ghatte Khola to the bridge was roughly 2 kilometres, and the walk was reported to take around 15 to 20 minutes under normal conditions.

A senior Rasuwagadhi immigration official later explained that people travelling as part of an organized group or by bus would often wait for the remaining members of their own group to complete immigration before continuing together.

At 6:27 AM, Saiprasad replied to a family friend in Toronto, confirming that the hotel folks take care of Laddoo, the deaf dog he had previously sent videos about, after she asked who cared for the dog.

Key point: The available information places Saiprasad's group somewhere in this Timure, Ghatte Khola and Rasuwagadhi border corridor that morning.

Around 8:00 AM: Nepal immigration was processing travellers

The Rasuwagadhi immigration office was processing travelers by about 8:00 AM.

The normal administrative office hours published online suggested a later opening time, but the border operation that morning was clearly underway earlier.

Travelers entering and leaving Nepal were being recorded through Nepal's computerized immigration system. Those electronic records later provided precise information about activity at the border immediately before the flood.

Photographs, videos and accounts from other pilgrimage groups also show normal traveler activity in the Timure and border area around this time.

Around 8:20 AM: 300 to 400 travellers were waiting to leave Nepal

Tika Ram Pokharel, a senior official from the Rasuwagadhi immigration office, later said that he called a colleague working at the border at about 8:20 AM.

His colleague told him that roughly 300 to 400 travellers were waiting to leave Nepal for Tibet.

These were many separate individuals and travel groups using the border that morning. Saiprasad was travelling with one of those groups.

At 8:20 AM, Saiprasad last checked his WhatsApp. There is no known WhatsApp activity from him after that.

8:35 AM: Final recorded immigration transaction

Nepal's electronic immigration records show that 89 travellers had cleared immigration to leave Nepal for Tibet that morning. Four other travellers had registered entry into Nepal from the opposite direction.

The immigration system recorded its final transaction at exactly 8:35:03 AM.

The public information does not identify whether members of Saiprasad's group were among those 89 travellers.

About 8:37 AM: A massive glacier collapse occurs upstream

At about 8:37 AM, a massive section of glacier ice and rock collapsed high in the mountains upstream. The impact was so powerful that seismic monitoring systems initially registered the signal as an earthquake. Later analysis showed that there had been no earthquake. The seismic signal itself was produced by the enormous glacier and rock collapse and the resulting debris flow.

The collapsing ice and rock fell more than a kilometer into the valley, carrying huge amounts of debris with it. The debris temporarily blocked the Lhende Khola river. When that natural blockage failed, it released a massive surge of water, mud, rocks and debris downstream toward Rasuwagadhi and Timure.

Around 8:40 to 8:45 AM: The flood reaches the border corridor

Within minutes, the flash flood tore through the Rasuwagadhi, Ghatte Khola and Timure corridor.

Buildings were destroyed. Vehicles were swept away. Roads and border infrastructure were damaged or buried. People were carried downstream, and communications from the area were disrupted.

The immigration system had recorded its final transaction at 8:35:03 AM. Only minutes later, the flood reached the border area.

This entire corridor, where Saiprasad's group was believed to be travelling that morning, was directly affected.

After the flood: Saiprasad's group remains missing

As news of the disaster reached families, we began checking hospitals, rescue lists, missing-person records and reports from the border.

Some travelers from the wider disaster area were rescued or later confirmed safe. Saiprasad and his group were not among those we could account for.

The entire group remains unaccounted for based on the information currently available.

Information about any member of the group could still be important. A photograph, immigration record, witness account or other reliable location information for even one or two members could help establish where the group was when the flood struck.

The rescue operation expands

Nepalese security forces, emergency workers, local residents and international rescue teams began searching the devastated border area and the river corridor downstream.

People were rescued from several locations. At the same time, bodies and human remains began to be recovered from Rasuwa and from locations much farther downstream.

Search teams worked through destroyed buildings, mud, debris, damaged roads and riverbanks while authorities compiled lists of people who had been rescued, were missing or had died.

By August 31: The operation moves toward recovery and identification

As the days passed, the operation increasingly moved from rescue to recovery.

Some recovered bodies were identified by relatives or through physical characteristics and personal belongings. Others were badly damaged by the flood, remained in water or mud for days, or were recovered only as partial remains.

Authorities began documenting unidentified victims and collecting fingerprints, DNA and other forensic information.

Relatives of missing people were also asked to provide DNA samples where needed so they could be compared with unidentified remains. DNA is not needed in every case, but it becomes especially important when a victim cannot be identified by appearance, clothing, jewellery or other distinguishing features.

September 1, morning: Still missing

As of September 1, 2026, Saiprasad Somayajula and the rest of his group remain missing.

I have not found any confirmed record showing that Saiprasad was rescued, hospitalized, contacted, identified among the recovered victims, or confirmed to have crossed the border.

The group's last confirmed location was Timure at about 7:30 AM, when they were heading toward the Nepal immigration area at Ghatte Khola. The flood later struck the entire Timure, Ghatte Khola and Rasuwagadhi border corridor.

September 1, evening: Canada expands the search for missing Canadians

Global Affairs Canada says approximately 30 Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Nepal and Tibet still have not had their whereabouts and well-being confirmed.

Canada has assigned each affected family a dedicated consular contact and has sent officials to Nepal, including an RCMP liaison officer.

Canadian officials are working with authorities in Nepal and China to locate the missing Canadians. Nepal Police have also requested phone number information from families that may help with geolocation, and arrangements are being made to collect family DNA samples where identification may be necessary.

Chinese authorities separately reported that six Canadians were among the foreign nationals listed as missing in the Gyirong disaster area on the Tibet side of the border. Search operations are continuing there.

September 2, morning: Road access restored to the Gyirong search zone

China has reopened the G216 highway leading into the Gyirong border disaster area, allowing excavators and other heavy search equipment to reach areas that had been difficult or impossible to access since the flood.

Search teams are also using search dogs and life detection equipment in the affected area.

The restored road access allows rescuers to search buried and previously inaccessible areas on the Tibet side of the border, although this may not be directly relevant to Saiprasad's group.

September 2, evening: Deep searches begin in the Gyirong disaster zone

Regional authorities say rescue teams are conducting deep searches beneath the debris in the Gyirong border area. The debris averages about 4 meters deep and reaches up to 16 meters in some places.

Heavy machinery has entered the main disaster area, with searches focusing on the parking area, the border inspection building and nearby accommodation buildings.

The heavy equipment is allowing rescuers to search areas that were previously buried too deeply to examine.

September 3, morning: Another Canadian Makes Contact

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand reported that another Canadian had made contact. (She had similarly reported one Canadian safe on August 29.) Although she could not name them publicly, their families would presumably have been informed. Since Saiprasad’s family has not received confirmation that he is safe, these reports appear to refer to other Canadians affected by the disaster.

September 3, evening: Latest Nepal Recovery Figures

Overall in Nepal flash floods:
Treated for injuries: 5,384
Hospitalized in Kathmandu: 46+
Bodies recovered from Timure/Ghattekhola area: 116
Total bodies recovered: 1,252

September 4: Two Workers Rescued Alive After 9 Days!

Two workers, Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan, were rescued alive from the Upper Trishuli-3A Hydropower Project tunnel in Rasuwa nine days after the flood. They were found after rescuers heard voices from inside the tunnel, brought out at around 9:20 AM, given initial treatment and airlifted to Kathmandu. Sah had non-critical injuries, while Maharjan was reported to be in more serious condition.

That’s after 9 days since the disaster. That’s a miracle! We need one more miracle for our Saiprasad too. 🙏

September 5: Nepal Police expands DNA identification efforts

Nepal Police has published details of 1,270 unidentified bodies and human remains recovered after the flood. DNA samples have been collected from 1,260 of them, along with 1,012 samples from relatives of missing people, as identification efforts continue.

September 6: DNA testing available in Hyderabad 

India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has published a list of facilities where relatives of people missing in the Nepal flood can provide family-reference DNA samples. The list includes the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Ramanthapur, Hyderabad, so families in Hyderabad do not need to travel to Delhi solely for DNA testing. DNA reference samples should preferably be provided by a first-degree blood relative of the missing person: a father, mother, son, or daughter. If none of these relatives is available, (Nepal Police says) a brother or sister may provide the sample.

The DNA collection allows either a blood sample or an oral swab from the relative. The exact collection method may depend on the facility. Then the family can send the resulting DNA profile to Nepal Police by email.

September 8: Nepal Flood Casualty Figures

Treated for injuries: 6,827

Still receiving treatment in Kathmandu: 32

Bodies recovered from Rasuwa District: 169

Total bodies recovered: 1,357

Bodies identified and handed over to families: 102

People still reported missing: about 5,300, including approximately 600 foreigners

September 9: DNA identification efforts expand

Nepal’s forensic laboratories are handling a large backlog of flood related DNA samples, and some identifications may take weeks or months, especially when DNA must be extracted from teeth or bone. At the same time, international teams from India, China and South Korea are assisting the effort.
India’s forensic team reported processing more than 1,400 DNA samples and successfully generating 378 usable DNA profiles for further comparison and identification work.

September 10: Canadian forensic specialists arrive in Kathmandu

Two disaster victim identification specialists from RCMP, Canada have arrived in Kathmandu to assist with the identification effort. Their work includes helping identify victims using forensic information such as DNA, dental records and other identifying evidence.
The deployment adds Canadian forensic expertise on the ground as Nepal continues working to identify recovered victims, including missing foreign nationals.

September 11: Nepal Police launches Timure-to-Triveni search operation

Nepal Police launched the T2T (Timure to Triveni) Operation to expand and coordinate the search for people missing in the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli river system. The operation covers Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan and both Nawalparasi districts. Police are searching riverbanks, debris and difficult terrain using ground teams, trained dogs and drones, while continuing recovery, identification and DNA-related work.

September 27: Nepal Flood Casualty & Identification Figures

Injured

• Treated for injuries by security agencies: about 11,000

• Still receiving treatment in hospitals: 7

Recovered & Missing

• Total bodies/remains recovered: 1,453 (Including 236 recovered from Rasuwa district)

• People still reported missing: 4,718

Identification & DNA

• Bodies/remains identified and handed over to families: 112

• Total DNA samples collected: 3,391 (from bodies/remains: 1,330 + from relatives of missing persons: 2,061)

September 30: Saiprasad's Birthday

ఈ రోజు (సెప్టెంబర్ 30, 2026) మన తెలుగువాహిని సభ్యుడు, సహృదయుడు, రచయిత, Sai’s Whatsapp Stories సంస్థాపకుడు మరియు మనందరికీ మిత్రుడైన సాయిప్రసాద్ గారి పుట్టినరోజు. ఈ రోజు తన షష్టిపూర్తి కూడా.

October 5: Nepal Ends Active Search Operations

Nepal officially ended active search-and-rescue operations for the August 26 flood victims, shifting its focus to recovery, forensic identification and rehabilitation. Missing persons remain unaccounted for.

October 13: Approximately 250 Preliminary DNA Matches

Nepal's forensic laboratories reported approximately 250 preliminary DNA matches between recovered remains and relatives of missing persons. These require further verification before formal identification. No DNA result concerning Saiprasad has been reported.

October 14: Nepal Introduces Death Certificate Process

Nepal introduced procedures to legally declare flood victims missing for 45 days deceased, including foreign nationals. This enables families to obtain death certificates for legal and financial purposes without requiring recovery or identification of remains. Actual issuance of certificates has not yet been confirmed.

October 19: Death Certificate Verification Process Underway

Nepal has begun verifying records of people missing in the August 26 floods to facilitate legal death declarations. For foreign nationals, authorities are coordinating with their respective embassies.

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If you have any suggestions or additional information, please let me know, thanks.

Sincerely,
satya@live.ca
satyam@teluguvahini.com