‘We praise God’: Australian woman feared missing in Nepal flooding makes contact with family
We Praise God: Australian Woman Confirms Alive After Nepal Floods
Wanderstayfinder.com – We praise God — those were the words an Australian family could finally say after two days of total silence. Cara Severino, 25, an independent trekker swept up in catastrophic flash flooding along Nepal’s Himalayan corridors, placed a brief phone call to her parents on Friday morning, becoming the first of 39 Australians listed as missing to be confirmed alive. She is uninjured but still stranded, attempting a long overland walk toward Kathmandu with a small group of Nepali hikers.
What Happened and Why Rescue Was Delayed
On Wednesday, a sudden wall of floodwater tore through the China-Nepal border zone, obliterating villages and severing roads, bridges, and phone lines across the affected valleys. At least 469 people have been confirmed killed, and more than 1,500 remain unaccounted for. The destruction of infrastructure turned what should have been a rapid evacuation into a grinding, multi-day operation. Secondary flooding risks and the sheer remoteness of many settlements have kept international aid agencies and Nepali authorities working around the clock without being able to reach every stranded individual quickly.
For the Severino family back in Australia, those two days were defined by one question that no one could answer: had their daughter survived? Debbie and Frank Severino told reporters they received no signal whatsoever from Cara during the entire period. Her handset battery had died, and no cellular towers were operational along her route. We praise God, they said, that she was eventually able to reach them at all.
The Call from Gosainkunda
Cara had been walking the Langtang trek — one of Nepal’s most popular high-altitude routes — when the flood cut her path and severed every line of communication. By Friday morning she had regrouped at the lakeside settlement of Gosainkunda, roughly 3,800 metres up in the Langtang valley, alongside a handful of Nepali hikers who had been travelling in a flexible local group. From there she managed a short call home.
“She was hiking the Langtang trek and was stranded. With communications down we had no contact,” the Severinos said. “This morning she was able to call us from Gosainkunda where she has been able to reach along with some other [Nepali] hikers. We understand that they are attempting to reach Kathmandu on foot.”
“We eagerly await more information about her safe return. We praise God that she has been able to make this brief contact with us. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families awaiting news.”
The brief exchange confirmed what the family most needed to know: Cara is not injured and is moving in the correct direction. Yet the road ahead remains long, steep, and uncertain. We praise God for the contact, her parents acknowledged, but the walk home is far from finished.
The 110-Kilometre Walk Ahead
Under normal conditions a jeep or helicopter could shuttle trekkers out of the Gosainkunda area in hours. With roads washed out and air corridors consumed by the disaster response, Severino and her Nepali companions face more than 110 kilometres of foot travel to Kathmandu. The descent threads through landslide-prone slopes, swollen river fords, and communities still reeling from the flood’s impact. Altitude, exhaustion, and the weight of personal gear make the journey genuinely hazardous even for seasoned walkers. Whether rescue teams will intercept her partway along the route remains unclear.
As of Friday evening, 38 Australians were still officially missing. Nepali police had released details on 35 of those individuals. Severino was the only one not attached to a commercial tour operator; the rest belonged to four organised groups, many of whom had been travelling for the Mount Kailash Hindu pilgrimage through the same high-altitude corridors now devastated. Licensed agencies carry registered itineraries and insurance-backed evacuation protocols — a safety net an independent trekker like Severino simply does not have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cara Severino injured?
No. Her brief Friday call confirmed she is uninjured and physically able to continue walking. She is, however, exhausted and facing a demanding multi-day descent through damaged terrain.
How many Australians are still missing?
As of Friday evening, 38 Australians remained officially missing after Severino’s confirmation. Nepali authorities had released names and details for 35 of those individuals.
What is the Langtang trek?
The Langtang trek is a popular high-altitude walking route in Nepal’s Langtang valley, passing through settlements such as Gosainkunda at approximately 3,800 metres. It is a standard itinerary for independent and guided trekkers alike.
Why did it take two days to hear from her?
The flood destroyed cellular infrastructure and roads across the affected zone. Severino’s own phone battery died, leaving her without any means of communication until she reached a location where a brief call could be placed. We praise God that the call eventually went through, her family said.
What is happening with the other missing Australians?
The remaining missing individuals are attached to four commercial tour groups, many of whom had been travelling for the Mount Kailash pilgrimage. Those agencies have designated points of contact and evacuation protocols, which should accelerate rescue once access routes reopen.
