‘How do I not crumble’: from Australia, Akash and his brother wait for news of their parents in Nepal
News Source
•Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:00:27 GMT
📰 What Happened
Sydney student Akash Venkatraman, 22, has lost contact with his parents. They left for Nepal on a spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. Then a glacial collapse sent a torrent of mud, water, and debris through the Nepal-Tibet border. The flood burst the banks of the Trishuli River and swept away homes, bridges, and roads.
His parents are among 38 Australians reported missing after the disaster. Venkatraman Balakrishnan, 52, and Chitra Venkatraman, 46, have not been heard from since. Family friends who travelled with them are also missing. The group was staying in riverside accommodation in Syabrubesi.
Akash and his 17-year-old brother are waiting in Australia. He says he is just trying to keep going as his parents would want. He wonders how he will graduate if they are not there.
🔍 The Backstory
The deadly flash floods and landslides happened last Wednesday. They struck the Nepal-Tibet border region after a glacial collapse. Such collapses happen when ice and rock suddenly give way. Climate change is making these events more frequent and more severe.
Mount Kailash is a sacred site that draws pilgrims from many countries. Australian tour groups often visit the area. They commonly stay in riverside lodges like the one that was swept away.
Rescue teams are still searching for missing people on both sides of the border. Families like Akash's wait for any news at all. The disaster has become one of the deadliest in the region in years.
🎯 Why It Matters
This disaster shows how far a flood can reach into Australian families. Pilgrims and tourists travel to risky places every year. It also shows how climate change makes sudden floods more common and more deadly.
Sydney student Akash Venkatraman, 22, has lost contact with his parents. They left for Nepal on a spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. Then a glacial collapse sent a torrent of mud, water, and debris through the Nepal-Tibet border. The flood burst the banks of the Trishuli River and swept away homes, bridges, and roads.
His parents are among 38 Australians reported missing after the disaster. Venkatraman Balakrishnan, 52, and Chitra Venkatraman, 46, have not been heard from since. Family friends who travelled with them are also missing. The group was staying in riverside accommodation in Syabrubesi.
Akash and his 17-year-old brother are waiting in Australia. He says he is just trying to keep going as his parents would want. He wonders how he will graduate if they are not there.
The deadly flash floods and landslides happened last Wednesday. They struck the Nepal-Tibet border region after a glacial collapse. Such collapses happen when ice and rock suddenly give way. Climate change is making these events more frequent and more severe.
Mount Kailash is a sacred site that draws pilgrims from many countries. Australian tour groups often visit the area. They commonly stay in riverside lodges like the one that was swept away.
Rescue teams are still searching for missing people on both sides of the border. Families like Akash's wait for any news at all. The disaster has become one of the deadliest in the region in years.
This disaster shows how far a flood can reach into Australian families. Pilgrims and tourists travel to risky places every year. It also shows how climate change makes sudden floods more common and more deadly.