At Tropentag 2026, alumni of the Agricultural Sciences and Resource Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ARTS) programme came together as they have done many times before— to reconnect, exchange memories, and celebrate the bonds built through years of study and shared experiences.

But this year, the reunion carried a much heavier feeling.

Among the conversations was the story of Bhogendra Khatri, an ARTS alumnus who has been missing since a devastating flash flood in Nepal on 26 August 2026.

Just months earlier, in March and April 2026, ARTS students, alumni, faculty members, and friends from Nepal had come together during the ARTS field excursion to Nepal. Among the memories shared at Tropentag were farm visits in Sindhupalchowk and Bhaktapur, guided by Bhogendra himself.

Bhogendra studied in the ARTS Master’s programme at the University of Bonn from 2009 to 2011. More than a decade later, he remained connected to the community that had become part of his life.

On 25 August, Bhogendra travelled to Melung Camp in Rasuwa as a consultant for the Nepal Water & Energy Development Company, working on the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project. The following morning, 26 August, a flash flood struck the area. Bhogendra went missing along with members of his team and local staff.

He has not yet been found.

For his family— including his wife and young son— the uncertainty is devastating. For the ARTS community, the story is painfully close to home. A former student who once walked the halls of Bonn, guided students through farms in Nepal, and remained connected to the programme is now at the centre of a family’s anxious wait.

A community remembering, and reaching out

At Tropentag, the ARTS community came together not only to remember Bhogendra, but also to ask how they could support his family and other families affected by the floods in Rasuwa.

Tropentag is a place for science, exchange and collaboration. But it is also a place where communities come together when one of their own needs support.

The ARTS alumni meeting this year therefore became more than a reunion. It became a moment of solidarity— connecting people in Bonn with a family and a community facing an unimaginable period of uncertainty.

Those who would like to support Bhogendra’s family and other families affected by the Rasuwa floods can contribute through Aktion Solukhumbu (Nepalhilfe Bonn e.V.).

Donation details

Account name: Aktion Solukhumbu (Nepalhilfe Bonn e.V.)
IBAN: DE61 3806 0186 1908 8880 10
BIC: GENO DE D1 BRS
Bank: Volksbank Köln Bonn e.G.
Reference: Donation Nepal flood – ARTS

For enquiries and further information, please contact Dr Jan Ellenberger at ARTS Coordination (ellenberger@uni-bonn.de) or Dr Shyam Pariyar (spariyar@uni-bonn.de).

At Tropentag, we often speak about resilience— of communities, livelihoods, landscapes, and food systems. This year, the ARTS community was reminded that resilience is also about standing together when one of our own is facing a crisis .

For Bhogendra’s family, the waiting continues.

And from Bonn to Nepal, his ARTS community is remembering him, standing with his family, and hoping for news.