Mumbai Mountaineer Dr Milind Chitlay Missing in Nepal Floods as 80 State Tourists Stranded

Mumbai-based mountaineer and medical practitioner Dr Milind P Chitlay is among those reported missing following devastating flash floods in Nepal, leaving his family, associates, and the city's trekking community unable to establish contact with him.

Dr Chitlay, the co-founder of Hills and Trails, is an experienced mountaineer who has visited Nepal more than 18 to 19 times, leading trekking groups from Mumbai and Pune. Disrupted communication networks across flood-hit parts of Nepal have made it difficult to verify his location or confirm his safety as rescue operations continue.

The development comes as around 80 tourists from Maharashtra remain stranded in Nepal due to the widespread flooding. Maharashtra Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan stated that the state government had managed to establish contact with only four to five of the stranded tourists so far.

According to Mahajan, 57 of the 80 stranded individuals had travelled to Nepal through Richa Tours and Travels. The Maharashtra state government is coordinating with the Union government to locate the tourists and facilitate their evacuation and return.

To assist affected residents and their families, the state administration has activated a 24-hour emergency control room at Mantralaya in Mumbai. Citizens can reach the control room via the toll-free helpline number 1070 or by calling +91-9321587143. The government has urged stranded residents from Maharashtra to submit their personal and travel details through its official assistance mechanism to aid tracking and relief efforts.

The flash floods have wreaked widespread havoc across Nepal, resulting in more than 160 deaths and leaving nearly 800 people missing, including approximately 300 Indian nationals. In response, India has dispatched humanitarian aid, including disaster relief materials, medicines, and food supplies, to support ongoing emergency operations in the country.