Arizona man missing after devastating floods, mudslides in Nepal

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Published August 30, 2026 5:19 PM MST
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Arizona man possibly missing following deadly flooding in Nepal

A temple in Tempe is saying one of their members, Sri Keshava Rao Tadipatri, who was on a pilgrimage in the area, is missing following the deadly floods in Nepal. FOX 10's Andrew Christiansen learns more.

The Brief

    • The Nepalese community in Arizona is reeling after devastating floods and mudslides in Nepal and Tibet killed more than 780 people and left several thousand missing.
    • Authorities are actively searching for missing Arizona resident Sri Keshava Rao Tadpatri, a member of a Tempe temple who was on a pilgrimage in the region.
    • At least 100 people were reported trapped in a mud-filled hydropower plant tunnel, while local leaders plan fundraisers to assist with estimated rebuilding costs of $4 billion.

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Nepalese community in Arizona is still reeling as the death toll in Nepal and Tibet has reached hundreds of people. 

Local perspective:

Several thousand are still missing, including one person from Arizona, due to devastating floods and mudslides.

Authorities are searching for Sri Keshava Rao Tadpatri, a member of a temple in Tempe who was on a pilgrimage in the area. 

What we know:

Overall, more than 3,000 people are missing. Video from the scene shows the shocking and disturbing devastation that the floods and mudslides are having on the area. More than 780 people have died in floodwaters and mudslides. 

Experts believe the disaster was caused by a piece of a glacier that broke off and fell into a nearby river. As of Aug. 29, there were at least 100 people trapped in a hydropower plant tunnel filled with mud.

How to help survivors after catastrophic floods in Nepal and Tibet

Humanitarian groups are mobilizing to help survivors after catastrophic flooding near the Nepal-China border left hundreds dead or missing, including Americans.

What they're saying:

A professor from Arizona State University who is also in charge of the Nepalese Student Association spoke about the devastating impact the event has had.

"Watching these images, watching this footage, seeing the landscape you’ve been seeing wiped away within a few minutes, it was just heartbreaking," said Gyan Nyaupane, a professor at the ASU Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

What's next:

The association will be hosting fundraisers for Nepal. Authorities from Nepal estimate it will take about $4 billion to rebuild.

The Source: Information in this report was gathered from temple authorities, local officials in Nepal, and an ASU professor.

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