NSW Couple Among 15 Australians Missing in Nepal's Deadly Floods

A couple from Western Sydney, Venkatraman Balakrishnan, 52, and Chitra Venkatraman, 46, are among the 15 Australians confirmed missing in Nepal following devastating flash floods. They were participating in a tour with the US-based hiking company Himalayan Glacier when the natural disaster struck.

The couple's son shared that he last communicated with his parents when they were approximately 15 kilometers from the Tibet border. He has not heard from them since but remains hopeful that the entire tour group will be found safe. The group consisted of 47 people in total, including the 15 Australians, and they are currently unaccounted for in the Langtang Valley.

Catastrophic flash flooding has impacted Nepal, leading to numerous foreign nationals being reported missing. The scale of the disaster has complicated rescue efforts, with infrastructure damage hindering communication and access to affected areas. The presence of young Australians, including two boys aged 11 and 14, within the missing tour group adds to the concern.

International efforts are underway to coordinate with Nepalese authorities and provide support for rescue operations. The situation remains critical as search teams work against time to locate the missing individuals amidst the challenging terrain and aftermath of the severe flooding.

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I'd like to see my parents and everyone who went with them back in one piece, and that everyone else there is as safe as possible.