The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said there is still no report on the whereabouts of Dr. Juan Carlos Cinense Manalo, a Filipino physician listed among those missing in the catastrophic flash flood that struck the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26.
The spiritual group Isha Foundation said that based on accounts from people closest to the border, they now fear the worst for Manalo and 79 other members caught in what they described as an ‘unimaginable calamity.’
Inside the immigration office
Isha founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev confirmed that 80 members of the Foundation’s Kailash Mansarovar Yatra group were inside the Gyirong immigration building minutes before it was swept away.
He said the group’s leader messaged at 9:05 a.m. local time that they had arrived at immigration. The flood struck at 9:14 a.m.
‘This is a terrible and extraordinary event,’ Sadhguru said, breaking down as he disclosed that the group comprised 34 men and 46 women from the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Singapore, Spain, and the Philippines.
Embassy coordination
The DFA noted that the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi and the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Kathmandu continue to coordinate closely with Nepali authorities regarding Dr. Manalo’s case.
Aside from being a pilgrim, the Embassy confirmed that Manalo was a volunteer with the Isha Foundation, a global, volunteerled nonprofit spiritual organization, and had been assigned to the Gyirong border area in Tibet. To date, no information about him has been received.
Isha Foundation statement
The Foundation said Chinese authorities are conducting search and rescue operations at Gyirong Port.
‘At this time, there seem to be no encouraging indications of survivors at the immigration office area. The immigration office complex has been completely washed away,’ it said, citing multiple sources.
Teams remain stationed about 25 kilometers from the Gyirong site the closest permitted location and are in direct contact with frontline rescue teams and officials.
‘We have been informed that the valley at Gyirong Port is covered with significant debris, probably as much as 45-50 feet of silt and rubble. Local experts told our onground team that it is very unlikely anyone could have survived the force of the flood. The mix of debris and water rose as high as 150 feet with immense force, completely wiping out the entire building complex,’ the group added.
While ‘desperately hoping for some positive indication,’ the Foundation admitted that verified findings so far ‘are not giving us any encouraging indication.’
On the Nepal side, access to the affected area remains blocked by massivedestruction of roads and bridges.
Rising toll
Nepalese authorities and responders continue the painstaking work of accounting for victims. As of August 29, the government reported 626 bodies recovered.
About 2,400 people remain unaccounted for, while more than 4,450 individuals have been rescued, including 187 foreign nationals.
Nepali disaster officials said 155 foreign nationals have been rescued, but none from the Philippines.
Officials emphasized that the Nepalese government ensures all information is officially verified before release to avoid confusion.
Triggered by heavy rains and glacial runoff, the flash flood devastated communities along the NepalTibet border, sweeping away infrastructure and leaving families across multiple countries desperate for news of their loved ones.
Rescue teams continue to struggle with damaged roads, unstable terrain, andisrupted communications.
Filipino family’s appeal
Dr. Manalo’s family in the Philippines has appealed for prayers and assistance in reaching agencies and Nepali authorities to help in search operations. Relatives released contact numbers for coordination: Jose Rodrigo Manalo (0917 302 3077), Dinah Marie Manalo (0917 514 3465), and Chiara Manalo (0917 791 7849).
‘We are asking for prayers and assistance in connecting with agencies or Nepal authorities to help with search operations,’ Chiara Manalo wrote in her social media post.
The DFA said it remains in close touch with Nepali authorities and will provide updates once verified information becomes available. International rescue teams are continuing efforts to account for missing tourists and locals, including Dr. Manalo.