Floods wreck key Nepal-Tibet crossing, halting pilgrimages to sacred Mount Kailash
Severe flooding on Aug. 26 destroyed the main Nepal-Tibet border crossing, stranding hundreds of pilgrims heading to Mount Kailash.
On Aug. 26, flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border demolished the Gyirong crossing, the primary gateway for pilgrims traveling to Mount Kailash. The destruction stranded hundreds of worshippers from Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions, who normally walk a 33-mile circuit around the mountain rather than climb it. Mount Kailash, located in China’s Tibet autonomous region, is venerated as the dwelling of Shiva, the Buddhist deity Demchok, and the Jain figure Rishabhanatha, and also attracts secular trekkers.
Historically, the pilgrimage route has shifted over centuries, with the modern path gaining prominence after the 1981 reopening of border access. Recent years saw demand exceed China’s quota of 24,000 permits for Indian pilgrims, and the Indian government’s lottery-selected official group of 1,000 participants. The loss of the Gyirong crossing, which had been upgraded in 2014 and opened to international travelers in 2017, now threatens the busiest pilgrimage season on record.
Why it matters
The floods cut off the main route for thousands of pilgrims, disrupting a major religious and cultural journey in the Himalayas.
How this story developed
- Aug 27 Flash Floods from Glacial Collapse Leave Hundreds Dead and Thousands Missing on Nepal-Tibet Border
- Aug 27 The United Nations pledged $2 million for relief efforts.
- Aug 27 The US Department of State said 90 Americans were unaccounted for in China and Nepal and it was not aware of any US deaths.
- Aug 28 Authorities warned that the debris‑clogged river and rising water in a blocked lake could cause additional flooding downstream.
- Aug 28 The Nepali army is rescuing people trapped in a tunnel at a hydropower site in Rasuwa after deadly floods.
- Aug 29 Death‑toll estimates rose to at least 579 with about 1,400 people still missing.
- Aug 30 A sudden flash flood in Bright Angel Creek at the Grand Canyon has left more than 20 people unaccounted for and prompted the evacuation of dozens of hikers and campers.
- Aug 30 Authorities have closed Phantom Ranch and the entire North Kaibab Trail pending further assessment.
- Aug 30 National disaster authorities issued new flood warnings as water levels rose in the Bhotekoshi River.
- Aug 31 International rescue teams joined Nepalese forces and fresh flood warnings were issued as river levels rose.
- Aug 31 Updated casualty figures show 734 deaths and 2,498 missing in Nepal, with 16 deaths and 546 missing in Tibet.
- Aug 31 Stage‑four water restrictions were enacted after the Transcanyon waterline was destroyed.
- Aug 31 Drilling and air‑pumping operations at the Trishuli‑3A tunnel have begun to free trapped workers.
- Aug 31 The number of missing persons in Nepal has risen to about 4,200.
In this story
Related stories
14 in this thread