Family says Virginia man missing in Nepal floods was "in his happy place"
Summary
Anil Goel, a 67-year-old man from Northern Virginia, went missing after severe floods and mudslides swept away a border checkpoint on the Nepal-Tibet border. He was part of a group crossing from Nepal to Tibet on a pilgrimage when the disaster struck, and rescue efforts continue as many remain missing.Key Facts
- Anil Goel was at the Rasuwagadhi immigration checkpoint near the Nepal-Tibet border when floods and mudslides destroyed the area.
- About 10 Americans, including Goel, were at the checkpoint on August 26, 2026, just before the disaster.
- Goel’s family received a photo showing his group at the checkpoint about 35 minutes before the floods.
- His visa was approved at 8:35 a.m. local time, shortly before the area was hit by the flood.
- The disaster was caused by the collapse of a rock ledge and a Himalayan glacier upstream.
- Goel was on a hiking and religious pilgrimage trip to Mount Kailash, a sacred mountain in Tibet.
- He had visited Nepal many times before for trekking and loved the region.
- Rescue operations are still ongoing, with concerns about a swollen glacial lake that could cause more flooding.
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