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Tea Break Saves 52 Mansarovar Pilgrims From Nepal Floods

Tea Break Saves 52 Mansarovar Pilgrims From Nepal Floods
Bengali love for 'cha' saves pilgrims: Impromptu tea break near Nepal-China border averts encounter with floods - Telegraph India · telegraphindia.com

A group of 52 people was traveling to Mansarovar through Nepal.

Seventeen of them were from Bengal.

Some travelers wanted tea, so their bus stopped at a tea stall in Bidur.

This made the bus about 15 to 20 minutes late.

That delay meant they were not at the border when a huge flash flood arrived.

Police told them to turn around and go to higher ground.

The travelers saw water and rocks destroy cars, shops and homes.

They said the tea stop and the helpful driver saved their lives.

Key facts

Pilgrims involved
52
Pilgrims from Bengal
17
Tea-break location
Bidur, Nepal
Delay caused
Approximately 15–20 minutes
Flood date
August 26
Nearby border destination
Gyirong immigration centre
Reported flood toll
More than 900, with scores still missing

Quotes

Kalyan Kumar Tah

Retired teacher from Burdwan and one of the rescued Mansarovar pilgrims

“We insisted that the driver stop at a tea stall because a few of us badly wanted some tea. The driver willingly stopped the bus near a tea stall, and the tea break literally became our lifesaver.”
telegraphindia.com
“What we saw from the top was enough to curdle our blood with fear. We saw a massive gush of muddy, blackish water and stones washing away cars, shops and dwelling units in seconds.”
telegraphindia.com

Sources

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