Search Efforts Continue for Missing Bartlett Woman in Nepal

Family members of a Bartlett woman missing after Nepal’s recent flood are in Kathmandu, searching tirelessly. Poonam Thakkar, 42, set out on August 20 for a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash near the Nepal-Tibet border. Her elder sister, Bhumika, had completed the same journey the previous year. Now, Bhumika and two cousins have retraced Poonam’s steps, hoping to locate her after the August 26 flood, according to her sister Gunjan.

“They intend to visit that impacted area because we believe she’s still there,” Gunjan stated.

Search hopes remain strong. Survivors have been found days after the flood. Though the death toll has exceeded 1,100, about 4,000 people are still unaccounted for. The flood, induced by a Himalayan glacier collapse, has caused widespread destruction.

Reports of family members scanning photographs of missing individuals at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu emphasize the urgency. Poonam left Chicago on August 20 for a tour starting on August 23. Family conversation occurred the day before the flood. “It was all casual, and she was just sharing how excited she was to be starting the pilgrimage,” Gunjan said, noting Poonam’s joy at the journey’s outset.

Poonam, holding U.S. and Canadian citizenship, had relocated to Bartlett 7½ years ago, joining her family. In Chicago, extended family resides. A senior manager at a leading consulting firm, Poonam’s colleagues have extended their support, Gunjan added.

Bhumika’s initial post-flood travel plans faced hurdles as authorities advised caution. Securing a flight was feasible later. Presently, the family awaits opportunity to move beyond Kathmandu, engaging with authorities from the U.S. and Canadian embassies, who offer standard, empathetic responses, Gunjan shared. Encounters with others searching for missing relatives have led to collaborative efforts, as groups delegate tasks and share findings daily.

Despite weather challenges continuing in parts of the region, Kathmandu provides a stable base. Gunjan appeals to readers, urging positive thoughts and wishes for Poonam’s safe return.