Son of missing American in Nepal reveals last time he spoke with dad

Sunny Patel, whose father is among those missing after devastating floods on the Nepal–Tibet border, told Fox News on Saturday that he last spoke with his father, Jitendra Patel, moments before the region was struck.

Nepali authorities said Saturday that the combined death toll in Nepal and Tibet was 676 with nearly 3,000 people missing, among them around 90 Americans. Rescue efforts along the border between Nepal and China are still underway Saturday following the flooding on Wednesday, which took place along a stretch of the Trishuli River, hitting dozens of settlements.

Many of the missing were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred site for Hindus, Buddhists and others.

Patel told Fox News his father was with a group heading up to Mount Kailash, which he described as “a place where thousands, if not tens of thousands of people go, every year on a spiritual pilgrimage.”

Newsweek has contacted the U.S. State Department for comment about the missing American citizens for a related article.

What to Know

Patel, his brother, and his mother all spoke with their father Tuesday night, which was early Wednesday in Tibet, he told Fox News.

In a Thursday Facebook post, Patel wrote that his father’s tour group had crossed from Nepal to Tibet at the Gyirong/Kerung border on Wednesday morning.

“We last spoke with him on the morning of the flood at approximately 8:13 am Tibet/China time. During that call, he told us that he had already cleared Chinese immigration and was in Tibet,” he wrote.

The family has not been in contact with him since that Wednesday morning call. “His phone has not reconnected to WhatsApp, and every message sent since then remains undelivered,” he wrote in the Facebook post.

Patel and his family have been working to try and locate their father but have not received much information, he says. He told Fox News that “the lack of information from the Tibetan side is kind of the most frustrating part right now.” Information about the disaster has emerged more quickly from Nepal, where authorities and local media have provided regular updates. On the Tibetan side of the border, China’s tight controls on information and restrictions on reporting have made it more difficult to assess the full scale of the damage and casualties.

Patel previously told NewsNation that his father was on the hiking trip with his aunt and another family friend.

Who Is Jitendra Patel?

Jitendra Patel is a 72-year-old father of two living on Long Island, New York. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1979, his son said. He has three grandchildren.

“He’s the kindest person I know. The most genuine person, just believed in the goodness of everybody, probably to a fault, to be honest,” Sunny Patel told Fox News about his father.

He added: “The kindest person, just loves spending time with people, love being around people, love playing golf. Just really a genuine person that got energy from being around his friends and even strangers, quite frankly. [He] lived with kindness in his heart.”

His son describes him as a very “upbeat, positive person,” who always says “God is good.”

Jigisha Motwani, a Long Island resident whose family has known missing travelers Jitendra Patel and Amita Amin for decades, previously told Newsweek she was “gutted” when she learned they were among those unaccounted for.

“All of these people are like an extended family,” Motwani said. “When I heard they were missing I was gutted. I hope we can find a way to get in touch with them and bring them back.”

She told Newsweek she had known Patel and Amin since childhood. “All of our parents are immigrants who came to this country and settled in Merrick, Long Island,” she said. “The South Asian families who lived in Merrick became our community and all events, birthdays and local trips were with this community.”

How Many Americans Are Missing in Nepal Flash Flood?

U.S. officials say around 90 Americans missing, while the latest list from Nepal includes 63 U.S. citizens listed as out of contact. In total, more than 2,400 people remain missing.

Many of the missing were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. Social media posts continue to be shared from loved ones pleading for people to provide updates or circulate information about Americans they had lost contact with.

The document describes those named as “out of contact.” Authorities have not said whether those listed are confirmed missing, injured, stranded or otherwise unable to communicate because of the disaster.

President Trump’s Response

President Donald Trump said the United States had offered Nepal “any help that they need” following the disaster, and that American officials were working to assist U.S. citizens affected by the flooding.

Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump described the flooding as “terrible” and said Washington had contacted Nepal’s leadership to offer support. “We’re sending aid,” Trump said. “We let them know anything they want, we’ll have.”

The State Department said it had deployed a disaster response adviser to the region and was providing $500,000 in humanitarian assistance to support emergency shelter, relief supplies and water and sanitation services in affected communities.

The department has also said it is working with Nepalese authorities to locate and assist U.S. citizens in the flood-hit areas.

What Is the Nepal Death Toll?

Nepal’s disaster management authority said the death toll there rose to 676 on Saturday, and that more than 3,700 people have been rescued. Fatalities are expected to rise.

Authorities said rescue and search operations are continuing, alongside efforts to remove roadblocks and restore access to affected areas.

What Caused the Fatal Flood?

Initial assessments indicate that a large section of a Himalayan glacier collapsed, sending a torrent of ice, water, mud and rock down the mountain valley. The surge overwhelmed rivers and swept through communities downstream, triggering one of the region’s deadliest flood disasters in recent years. Scientists are still investigating what caused the glacier to give way.

Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal called Saturday for a “global effort” to tackle climate change, saying the international community must work together. He noted that Nepal is among the world’s smallest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions but bears a disproportionate share of the consequences of climate change.

Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Jenni Fink and Anthony Murray.