Chicago woman missing after catastrophic Nepal floods

Poonam Thakkar departed the United States on August 20, following the route her sister Bhumika successfully traveled a year prior. Her last communication was a video message detailing her excitement for the sacred journey. Shortly after that contact, a high-altitude rock collapse triggered a glacial shift, sending a surge of mud and ice into the river valleys below.

Most of the group she was traveling with, who were reportedly staying at the Hotel Kailash in Rasuwagadhi, remain missing. Gunjan Thakkar, the woman's sister, confirmed that family members have now arrived in Kathmandu to coordinate with local search efforts. While local authorities report over 1,200 fatalities in the region, the Thakkar family remains focused on locating their relative amidst the widespread destruction of bridges and infrastructure.