Nepal Floods: Mumbai Mountaineer Missing, 80 Maharashtra Tourists Stranded

Mumbai, 27th August 2026: A Mumbai-based mountaineer and medical practitioner, Dr Milind P Chitlay, has been reported missing following devastating flash floods in Nepal, while around 80 tourists from Maharashtra are currently stranded in the flood-hit country.

Chitlay, co-founder of Hills and Trails, has reportedly not been reachable by his family, associates or members of Mumbai’s trekking community. Communication networks in several parts of Nepal have been disrupted following the floods, making it difficult to establish contact with people in the affected areas.

An experienced mountaineer, Chitlay is familiar with Nepal’s mountainous terrain and has reportedly visited the country more than 18-19 times, accompanying trekking groups from Mumbai and Pune. He has also led several trekking expeditions in Nepal in the past.

His disappearance comes as the Maharashtra government works to trace around 80 tourists from the state who are stranded in Nepal. Maharashtra Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan said authorities had managed to establish contact with only four to five of them so far.

According to Mahajan, 57 of the 80 tourists travelled through Richa Tours and Travels. The Maharashtra government is coordinating with the Union government to trace the stranded tourists and facilitate their rescue and evacuation.

A 24-hour control room has also been activated at Mantralaya to assist Maharashtra residents affected by the disaster. The toll-free helpline is 1070, while the control room can be contacted at +91-9321587143. Residents stranded in Nepal have also been asked to submit their details through the government’s assistance mechanism.

The flash floods have caused widespread destruction across Nepal, with more than 160 people reported dead and nearly 800 missing, according to PTI as cited by Free Press Journal. Nearly 300 Indians are reportedly among those missing.

Meanwhile, India has sent additional humanitarian assistance to Nepal, with a second flight carrying 37.5 tonnes of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief material, medicines and food packets. This followed an earlier shipment of 10 tonnes of humanitarian aid.