A New York teenager and mother are among 90 Americans missing in Nepal as families desperately search for answers

A New York teenager and mother missing in Nepal

Goldlaner.com – A New York teenager and mother have been unaccounted for since catastrophic flash floods tore through Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, leaving their extended family in Mumbai scrambling for any sign of life. Shekhar Agrawal, uncle to 14-year-old Rashi Shashidharan and brother to 54-year-old Rekha Shashidharan, spent Thursday dialing contact after contact, hoping one voice on the other end could confirm whether his sister and niece survived. “This is the crucial golden hour,” he told CNN from the Indian financial hub, flipping through photographs of the two women as he spoke.

The disaster unfolded with terrifying speed. Just over an hour after Agrawal last spoke with the pair around 7:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, a vast section of glacier sheared off the mountainside and plunged into the valley below. The resulting torrent of ice and rock generated a wall of water that slammed into towns and villages along the riverbank, decimating homes and infrastructure. By 8:37 a.m., according to international scientists, the landscape had been transformed.

“After that, we had radio silence. Nothing. No contact whatsoever,” Agrawal said, adding that he believes the mother and daughter may still have been in their hotel when the flood struck.

Families Race Against Time as Rescue Efforts Continue

The State Department confirmed on Thursday that 90 Americans remained unaccounted for, a day after the deadly floods. At least three Americans had been safely rescued, officials said, while dozens of other missing foreign nationals were pulled from the wreckage on Thursday. More than 1,300 people overall are missing, including over 700 foreign nationals from 31 countries spread across both Nepal and China. Hundreds have died so far.

President Donald Trump said the United States stands ready to send “any help” to Nepal, calling the event a “terrible” disaster. Countries around the world have begun dispatching aid, relief supplies, and personnel. Agrawal urged authorities to share information with families promptly, warning that the next two to three days would be critical for quick action to locate those injured or missing.

Many of the missing foreign tourists were religious pilgrims, particularly among the South Asian diaspora. Some had saved for months or years to follow a route through the Nepal-China border toward Mount Kailash in Tibet, sacred to multiple faiths. One missing American couple consisted of retirees who had finally taken the trip after their children urged them to “go live life” following decades of work. Another couple from Texas made the pilgrimage to mark the husband’s 60th birthday, which his children called a “bucket list dream.”

For the Shashidharans, the journey carried similar weight. Rashi, an eighth grader, had originally planned to undertake the Hindu pilgrimage solo and was “very excited,” Agrawal recalled. Her mother ultimately decided to accompany her so the teenager would not travel alone. The two had spent several days in Kathmandu acclimating to higher altitude before continuing north with a tour group toward the Chinese border.

“This is Rashi enjoying her temple visit,” Agrawal said, holding up a photograph showing the mother and daughter seated cross-legged on the floor. Rashi wore a forest-green shirt and jeans; her mother had a pink head covering. The image captured a moment of ordinary joy now frozen in uncertainty.

The affected region has lost power and connectivity. Rain, mud, and wreckage have hampered rescuers, making it unclear how many of the missing simply cannot reach the outside world. Agrawal described the experience as leaving him “helpless,” like he “can’t do much.” Yet he holds tightly to the possibility that his sister and niece are safe somewhere and will eventually be reunited with family. “We are hoping for the best because these kinds of things have happened earlier also,” he said.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Americans are missing in the Nepal floods?

As of Thursday, the State Department reported that 90 Americans remained unaccounted for. At least three Americans had been safely rescued, and dozens of other foreign nationals from 31 countries were also pulled from the disaster zone.

Where did the flood originate?

According to international scientists, a large section of glacier broke away from the mountainside near the Nepal-China border around 8:37 a.m. local time on Wednesday. The resulting ice-and-rock torrent created a massive wall of water that surged downstream, destroying villages and infrastructure along the river.

What is the family doing to locate the missing?

Family members are contacting every available phone number shared through the internet, television, and friends. Many numbers do not work, and those that do often have no information to offer. Authorities have been urged to share updates with families as quickly as possible during the critical first 48 to 72 hours.

What aid is being deployed?

President Trump stated the United States is prepared to send “any help” to Nepal. Multiple countries have dispatched relief supplies, rescue personnel, and logistical support. Rescue crews continue searching for survivors despite ongoing rain, mud, and widespread wreckage in the affected region.