Madras Bar Association asks India’s chief justice to help trace retired judge missing after Nepal floods

The Madras Bar Association has asked India’s chief justice to treat the disappearance of retired judge V Sivagnanam as an urgent, top-priority case after flash floods struck Nepal.

Sivagnanam last contacted his wife on August 26. He had been travelling with fellow pilgrims when the floods hit. People on another bus were rescued, and later told his family that Sivagnanam’s bus was close by, near the APF Nepal Border Outpost at Timure.

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urgent and of highest priority

“The persons travelling in another bus, who were rescued near the APF Nepal Border Outpost at Timure, have informed the family that Justice Sivagnanam’s bus was only about 100-200 metres away from theirs. The family and our Association are, therefore, gravely concerned about his safety and whereabouts,” the Delhi Tamil Advocates Association wrote in a letter to Chief Justice Surya Kant.

The Madras association also wrote to the chief justice and the Prime Minister’s Office. Its president, VA Kamalanathan, and secretary, J Pothiraj, urged the Union government to intensify all possible search efforts. The Delhi Tamil Advocates Association made a similar appeal on August 30.

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The persons travelling in another bus, who were rescued near the APF Nepal Border Outpost at Timure, have informed the family that Justice Sivagnanam’s bus was only about 100-200 metres away from theirs. The family and our Association are, therefore, gravely concerned about his safety and whereabouts.

Sivagnanam spent 34 years in the judiciary and served on the Madras High Court before retiring. The Supreme Court designated him a senior advocate in July 2025. The two legal bodies called for immediate coordination between Indian and Nepalese authorities to locate him and bring him safely back to India.

The search is taking place amid a wider disaster. At least 903 people died and more than 4,000 remained missing after floods hit the Nepal-Tibet border, while Nepal reported that 886 people had been rescued. India’s foreign ministry said 149 Indians had been rescued in Nepal, while about 900 Indian nationals on the Chinese side were safe and contactable.

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Furthermore, 598 Indian nationals have safely crossed into Nepal from China in the last two days, as per local government sources in China. Around 900 Indian nationals are still on the Chinese side but are safe and contactable.