New Delhi: Shankar Venkatachalam, a Bengaluru-based management consultant and executive coach is among the 61 Indian pilgrims who remain unaccounted for after the catastrophic floods that tore through the Nepal-Tibet border on 26 August. He was travelling to Kailash Mansarovar with his wife, Vidya Venkatachalam, when contact with the group was lost. Now, their family’s agonising wait for an update has stretched into the second week.
According to their relatives, Shankar (62) and Vidya (59) were travelling with his younger brother, Balaji Venkatachalam, Vice Chairman and CFO of Indecomm Global; Balaji’s wife Deepa; and Deepa’s sister, Anitha Radhakrishnan. The group was a part of a pilgrimage organised by Mumbai-based Hills & Trails and Kathmandu-based Richa Tours.
Their last known location was near the Nepal-Tibet border crossing at Gyirong at 8:45 am on the day of the flood. According to family members, they were at the immigration centre and had just completed the formalities. Reports later suggested that several pilgrims near the border facilities were swept away by the torrent.
More than 1,200 people have been confirmed dead and over 4,000 are still missing.
For Shankar’s nephew, Anirudh Madhavan, the uncertainty has been particularly difficult because the trip represented something meaningful for the family.
A seasoned trekker who had previously explored the Himalayas, Shankar undertook the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage for a special reason. It came shortly after the wedding of Shankar’s son in July.
The family had prepared meticulously for the physically demanding journey. Long walks, high-intensity workouts, and fitness class became a part of their routine in the months leading up to the trip.
“They were all in excellent health and fully prepared for the trek,” Anirudh said.
Also read: ‘Floods a climate crisis, countries must compensate’: Head of Nepal disaster management body
A man of many interests
Shankar’s family and friends describe him as someone who approached life with energy and curiosity. He was a senior leader in Oracle financial services. A founding member of iFlex, he built a successful corporate career before reinventing himself after retirement. Rather than slowing down, he immersed himself in new intellectual pursuits; studying law, completing an MBA, and exploring journalism.
Among the places where he found a new community was ThePrint School of Journalism, where he was part of the fourth batch. His batchmate, Nachiappan Ramanathan, remembers him as “a perfect gentleman”.
“He spoke fondly about his childhood in Madurai and the school where he studied,” Ramanathan recalled. “He was warm, thoughtful, and always eager to learn. Despite all that he had achieved professionally, he remained humble.”
Outside work, Shankar’s interests ranged from trekking and photography to tennis and travel.
According to Anirudh, Shankar and Vidya were deeply involved in charitable work, particularly initiatives focused on educating underprivileged children. They were the kind of people, he said, who would lose sleep over someone else’s difficulties and look for ways to help.
Today, those who benefitted from their kindness are praying for the couple’s return.
(Edited by Prasanna Bahchchhav)