Family Searches for Missing Woman in Nepal After Flood

Family members of a Bartlett woman missing since last week’s major flood in Nepal are in Kathmandu, hoping to locate her and ensure her safety. Poonam Thakkar, 42, left on August 20 for a sacred pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, near Nepal’s border with Tibet. Her oldest sister, Bhumika, embarked on the same journey a year prior. Now, Bhumika and two cousins have traveled to Nepal to trace Poonam’s path after she went missing on August 26 amid the flood. Middle sister Gunjan shared these details on Wednesday.

“They plan to visit the affected area because we believe she is still there,” Gunjan stated. The family holds hope as individuals have been found alive throughout the week following the flood, which authorities attribute to a collapsed glacier in the Himalayas. The official death toll had surpassed 1,100 by Wednesday, with nearly 4,000 still missing.

Poonam departed Chicago on August 20 for an organized tour to the Tibet border, scheduled to begin on August 23. Her family last spoke to her the day before the flood. “The call was casual; she was excited to start the pilgrimage,” Gunjan mentioned. “She was cherishing every moment.”

Poonam holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada, having previously lived in Canada prior to joining her family in Bartlett 7½ years ago. Extended family also resides in Chicago. Poonam works as a senior manager for one of the big four consulting firms, and her colleagues have expressed support to her family, reported Gunjan.

Bhumika initially planned to leave for Nepal immediately after the flood, but officials discouraged immediate travel. When the three family members eventually departed, securing a flight was manageable. Currently, travel beyond Kathmandu is not possible, but the family remains engaged with authorities, including U.S. and Canadian embassy representatives. Answers given by officials have been compassionate, according to Gunjan.

The family has joined with others searching for missing loved ones. They gather each morning to distribute daily tasks and then work together on findings, Gunjan explained. Despite the area they want to reach suffering from rain, mudslides, and power problems, Kathmandu remains a secure base for efforts, Gunjan noted.

As the search for Poonam and more information continues, Gunjan urges those reading to send positive thoughts and wishes for her sister’s safe return.