4 days ago
Five-Minute Move Helps Tirupati Pilgrims Escape Nepal Floods
Twenty-six pilgrims from Tirupati were travelling through Nepal toward Manasarovar.
A landslide blocked a road and stopped a vehicle carrying their luggage and cooking equipment.
People in that vehicle warned the pilgrims about the danger.
Their local guide, Suman, suggested moving the bus to higher ground.
The bus was moved, and about five minutes later floodwater covered the place where it had been parked.
The pilgrims watched the flooding from about 50 metres away.
An earlier tea break had also delayed them and helped keep them away from the flooded area.
Officials confirmed that all 26 pilgrims were safe in a hotel.
They are waiting to learn whether they can continue their journey or return to Tirupati.
Separately, the family of V.S. Balasubrahmanyam said they have been unable to contact him since Tuesday.
A group of 26 Manasarovar pilgrims from Tirupati moved their bus to higher ground after a landslide warning.
The bus was moved about five minutes before floodwaters inundated the area where it had been parked.
An earlier half-hour tea stop also delayed the group and kept it away from the flood-hit stretch.
The pilgrims saw floodwaters about 50 metres away, and an immigration building was reportedly damaged.
All 26 pilgrims are safe in a hotel, while their onward journey or return remains undecided; another traveller is uncontactable.
- Who
- Twenty-six pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka travelling with Tirupati-based Signin Travels; V.S. Balasubrahmanyam travelled separately and remains uncontactable.
- What
- The pilgrims narrowly escaped flash floods after their bus was moved to higher ground shortly before the area was inundated.
- Where
- On the Nepal-Manasarovar route; the pilgrims are currently staying at a hotel.
- When
- During the reported Nepal flash floods; Balasubrahmanyam’s family has been unable to contact him since Tuesday.
- Why
- A landslide warning and advice from the advance party and local guide led the group to move the bus away from the danger.
Key facts
- Pilgrims in group
- 26
- Travel organiser
- Signin Travels, Tirupati
- Escape timing
- The bus moved to higher ground about five minutes before the area flooded.
- Earlier delay
- The group had stopped for tea for about half an hour.
- Flood distance
- The pilgrims saw floodwaters about 50 metres away.
- Current status
- All 26 pilgrims are safe and staying at a hotel.
- Travel decision
- The group is awaiting information on whether it can continue to Manasarovar or return to Tirupati.
- Missing traveller
- V.S. Balasubrahmanyam of Kuppam remains out of contact with his family.
Quotes
Pemmassani Venkataramana
Managing director of Signin Travels
“As per the suggestion, we moved away from the spot. Within five minutes, the entire area where our bus had been parked got flooded. Any delay and we could have lost our lives”
deccanchronicle.com
“We moved back, and within five minutes the area was flooded. Otherwise, we could have lost our lives.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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