The search for Poonam Thakkar, a 42-year-old woman from Bartlett, Illinois, continues after she went missing during catastrophic flooding in Nepal on August 26, 2026. Thakkar was traveling with a group of approximately 50 people as part of a spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Kailash when the disaster struck, and communication with the entire group was lost that day.
Her family, desperate for answers, has traveled to Nepal to assist in search efforts, and they have shared what is believed to be one of her last video messages. The situation remains critical, with over 4,000 people still missing in the region a week after the flood.
Poonam Thakkar is a 42-year-old woman from Bartlett, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. She holds dual citizenship in the United States and Canada. According to her sister, Gunjan Thakkar, Poonam works in consulting and lives by the motto “work hard – play harder.” Described as an avid traveler, she was on what her family called a “trip of a lifetime” to Nepal.
Thakkar traveled to the region as part of a Hindu pilgrimage near Mount Kailash, a journey her friend Somali Raturi described as a “childhood bucket list dream” that they had been planning for over two years. Raturi was supposed to accompany Thakkar but was forced to cancel due to an injury.
Thakkar arrived in Nepal on August 25, 2026, and stayed at a hotel. The next morning, August 26, she was texting with loved ones in a family group chat while having breakfast. The group was scheduled to cross the Nepal-China border for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra that day.
The catastrophic flooding was triggered by a glacial collapse high in the Himalayan region, which sent rock, ice, and meltwater into the valleys below. The surge caused rivers in Tibet and Nepal to rise rapidly, sweeping away homes, buildings, roads, and bridges. Thakkar’s group was in the area near the Nepal-China border when the floods struck.
Contact with Thakkar and her group was lost shortly after their last communication on the morning of August 26. The travel company Himalayan Glacier, with which the group was traveling, confirmed that all 50 passengers in the group were uncontactable.
Before communication was lost, Thakkar sent a video message to loved ones from Nepal. In the video, she can be heard saying, “Hello everyone, I am on the way to the border of Nepal and China.” She also shared other videos of the landscape, including a “beautiful river running through the gorge, valleys.”
Her longtime friend, Somali Raturi, noted that the last time she spoke with Thakkar was the day before the disaster, on August 25. The family believes these videos were among the final communications from Thakkar before she went missing.
Thakkar’s family has been relentless in their efforts to find her. One of her sisters arrived in Kathmandu on August 31 with two cousins and immediately began searching. Her sister Gunjan Thakkar, speaking from the U.S., expressed the family’s determination: “We are very determined to find my sister.”
The family has faced communication challenges. Raturi said someone answered when loved ones called Thakkar’s Nepali phone a day after the flooding, but because of a language barrier, they could not determine whether that person had any information about her. The family has also reached out to the U.S. Mission, Canadian authorities, and the Nepal Mission, but has reported receiving no updates so far. U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois has called on the Department of State to use every available resource to support search-and-rescue efforts.
The flooding, which began on August 26, has been described as a major humanitarian emergency. The death toll has exceeded 1,100, and more than 4,200 people remain missing. Among the missing are at least 85 U.S. citizens. Hundreds of rescue workers have been working around the clock, but monsoon rains and the difficult terrain of the Himalayan region have complicated their efforts.
Search operations are being carried out along riverbanks and areas downstream in the affected districts, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha. Officials are also verifying reports that some of the missing have made contact or been rescued, with Nepal’s Foreign Ministry confirming that 324 foreign nationals have been rescued so far.
As of the latest reports, Poonam Thakkar remains missing. Her family continues to search for her in Nepal while also coordinating with authorities and the travel company Himalayan Glacier. The family has stated that they are “not losing hope” and are holding onto the belief that no news is potentially good news.
The travel company Himalayan Glacier has been posting updates on its Facebook page and confirmed that as of September 2, 40 guests, including Thakkar, and seven guides remain missing. Thakkar’s family has expressed frustration with the limited updates from government officials and is continuing to appeal for prayers and positive thoughts as the search for her continues.
Poonam Thakkar is a 42-year-old woman from Bartlett, Illinois, who went missing during catastrophic flooding in Nepal on August 26, 2026. She was on a spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.
Poonam Thakkar was traveling with a group of about 50 people near the Nepal-China border when a glacial collapse triggered massive flash flooding. The entire group lost contact on August 26, 2026, and they remain missing.
Yes, Poonam Thakkar remains missing as of the latest reports. Her family is on the ground in Nepal searching for her.
She went missing on August 26, 2026, after communication with her and her group was cut off during the flash floods.
Her last known location was near the Nepal-China border. The group was en route to the immigration crossing for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage when the disaster struck.
In her last video message, she says, “Hello everyone, I am on the way to the border of Nepal and China.” She also shared videos of a river and the landscape in the area.
Yes, her sister and cousins have traveled to Kathmandu and are actively searching for her. They are also coordinating with authorities and the travel company.
The floods were caused by a glacial collapse on August 26, which triggered a massive surge of water, mud, and debris that swept through villages and valleys in Tibet and Nepal. It is one of the worst natural disasters in the region in recent history.
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