4 days ago
Nepal Floods Leave Tourists Stranded as India Expands Rescue Efforts
A very large flash flood hit parts of Nepal on August 26.
Water, mud, rocks and debris rushed through towns near the Nepal-Tibet border.
Houses collapsed and some people were swept away.
Survivors climbed hills or found shelter while waiting for rescuers.
An Indian-American couple escaped by running uphill and was later flown to Kathmandu.
Many Indian tourists were also stranded in the area.
Authorities contacted 338 of 404 tourists from Maharashtra and were still searching for 60 others.
A family in Maharashtra was worried because Swati had stopped answering calls.
Puducherry officials were also trying to find three residents who were part of a larger pilgrimage group.
Flash floods struck Nepal’s Bhotekoshi River area on August 26, destroying homes and burying parts of markets in mud and debris.
An Indian-American couple and other tourists were rescued after scrambling to higher ground as torrents swept through settlements.
Authorities confirmed 338 of 404 Maharashtra tourists safe, while 60 remained untraceable and 37 were being transferred to India.
Families in Maharashtra are searching for Swati, a Toronto-based engineer whose mobile phone remained active near the Chinese border but who had not answered calls.
Puducherry officials sought help from India and Nepal to locate three residents last seen near Syaburbesi.
- Who
- Residents and tourists in Nepal, including travelers from Maharashtra and three residents of Puducherry, were affected; rescue authorities and families are seeking information about missing people.
- What
- Flash floods swept through settlements, destroying homes, burying markets, stranding tourists and leaving some people missing or untraceable.
- Where
- The flooding began around the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal’s Rasuwa region and affected the Trishuli and Gandak river systems, including areas near the Nepal-Tibet border.
- When
- The major flooding occurred on August 26; rescue and tracing efforts were continuing on the following Saturday.
- Why
- A sudden surge in the Bhotekoshi River sent water, mud and debris through settlements and downstream areas.
Key facts
- Maharashtra travelers
- Authorities established contact with 338 of 404 people from Maharashtra and confirmed they were safe.
- Untraceable Maharashtra travelers
- Sixty tourists who traveled through Mumbai-based Richa Tours Pvt Ltd remained untraceable.
- Return to India
- Thirty-seven people were being transferred from Saga in Tibet to India; 105 citizens from Nagpur had already returned.
- Missing Maharashtra traveler
- Swati, a Toronto-based engineer, had not communicated with her family since 9 a.m. on August 26.
- Puducherry residents
- Ananda Sundari, Vaishnavy Ramassamy and Geetha Ramassamy were reportedly caught in the floods and had last been located near Syaburbesi.
- Rescue coordination
- The Maharashtra State Emergency Operations Centre was coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs control room, while Puducherry contacted India’s Centre and Nepal.
- Flood impact
- The surge affected the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli and Gandak river systems, with homes buried, people missing and bodies recovered from the Narayani River.
Quotes
Pattabiraman Venkatesan
Indian-American tourist rescued with his wife after the Nepal floods
“I could see this monster thing coming down. At that point I didn't know if it was water. I thought it was fire, forest fire, honestly,”
telegraphindia.com
“We are contacting the Centre and the Government of Nepal for details. A search operation was on to trace them,”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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