According to officials from Nepal, around 5,000 people are missing after the devastating Nepal Flash Floods that destroyed the country. The floods occurred in Nepal on the morning of August 26, 2026.
The reports say the catastrophic flooding followed a glacier collapse near the Nepal-China border, which triggered a massive torrent of water and mud.
Amongst the missing people are Dr. Ishan Patel and his family. He was a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Ishan graduated from the Adult Reconstructive Fellowship of the University.
Dr. Akanksha Patel, his wife, was previously a psychiatrist at Mercy Hospital - Unity Campus in Fridley, Minnesota, according to Allina Health.
Dr. Patel was in Nepal after his graduation, spending some time with his family when the floods destroyed so many lives. He travelled to Nepal on a pilgrimage trip with his wife and their family.
On Tuesday, the University of Minnesota’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery shared the deeply saddening news that Dr. Ishan Patel, who recently completed his Adult Reconstructive Fellowship, had travelled to Nepal.
The university said that Dr. Ishan was joined by his wife Dr. Akanksha Patel, his mother, Shilpa Patel, and his father-in-law, Umeshkumar Patel.
When the calamity struck, Dr. Ishan and his family were most probably in the hotel.
The university said that the hotel was swept away during the floods and the family was declared missing soon after that.
In a statement, the university said, "This situation continues to evolve, and recovery efforts in the region are ongoing. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Dr. Patel, his family, and all those affected by this tragedy.”
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Dr. Ishan Patel and his wife are dual U.S.-Canadian citizens, and their parents are from Canada.
In an interview with CBC, their relatives said that the pilgrimage was long planned and they took the trip to mark a new beginning in Dr. Ishan’s life and his new career.
They also said that more members of their family have gone to Nepal to search for the missing members.
On Monday, Nepal observed a communal day of Mourning for those who lost their lives and for the thousands of people whose families are uncertain about their loved ones.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)