Family in Desperate Search After Missing American Dad Trapped in Nepal Flood

A family in the United States is grappling with the devastating loss of a loved one, as they search for answers in the aftermath of a catastrophic flood in Nepal. Sunny Patel, a son from the U.S., made a chilling discovery after watching a viral video of the flood's destruction. He realized that his father, Jitendra Patel, could have been caught in the disaster that has left hundreds dead and thousands unaccounted for.

The viral video depicted the terrifying torrent of water and debris that swept through the border area between Nepal and China's Tibet Autonomous Region. It was this footage that led Sunny to believe his father might have been in the vicinity during the tragic event. "I watched the video and I just thought of how horrific it was. And then... probably 30 seconds later, it registered," Sunny recalled.

Jitendra Patel was traveling on a spiritual pilgrimage when the disaster struck. Sunny had last spoken to his father on Wednesday morning, around local time, when he believed his father had already crossed the border from Nepal into China. However, Sunny has been unable to confirm these details, and the lack of information coming out of China has been incredibly frustrating for the family.

The Patel family has reached out to embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing, as well as the U.S. State Department, in their efforts to find information about Jitendra. They have filed missing person reports with every agency they can think of, and some have been responsive. "We're trying to go on these media segments and get the awareness out there that there are people on the Chinese side that we aren't getting a ton of information about," Sunny said.

Experts believe the mudslides and flash flooding across Nepal and Tibet were caused by a large chunk of ice breaking off a glacier and falling into the Lhende Khola River. This event sent stories-high waves of rock, ice, and debris hurtling through the mountain river systems, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life.

Newly released figures indicate that more than 600 people have been killed so far, with over 3,000 reported missing. Over 4,000 have been rescued, but the search for survivors continues. The devastating event has left many families in despair, including the Patel family.

Jitendra Patel was part of a group heading up to Mount Kailash, a place where thousands of people go every year on a spiritual pilgrimage. The group was actually supposed to be there the day prior, but unfortunately, they had some car troubles, which could have been the difference between life and death.

Sunny described his father as a kind-hearted, upbeat individual who always believed in the goodness of others. "He always, always, always said, 'God is good...' If you called him and said, 'How you doing?' He would say, 'I'm the best, God is great.' And he was just the most upbeat, positive person I've ever known," Sunny said.

As the search for Jitendra Patel continues, his family and friends hold onto hope that he may still be found alive. The tragic event in Nepal serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and devastating power of nature.