Nagpur: What began as a scenic Nepal trip for a group of 115 people, including Nagpur residents, turned into a tense ordeal after flash floods disrupted their return journey and left them stranded in Kathmandu for two days.
Nagpur resident Varsha Upadhyay, who was among the travellers who recently returned to Maharashtra, recounted how the situation changed rapidly towards the end of their trip. The group had arrived in Nepal on August 19 and initially encountered normal weather and peaceful surroundings.
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“The scenery was beautiful when we arrived on the 19th. However, two days before our scheduled return, the situation there deteriorated significantly, although we were safe in Kathmandu,” Upadhyay said.
The group’s difficulties intensified when they were stopped by police from proceeding towards the railway station for their scheduled train. As a result, they had to remain in Kathmandu for two days while authorities dealt with the rapidly worsening flood situation and disrupted transport links.
For the Nagpur travellers, the immediate priority was to remain together and find a safe way out of the flood-hit country. The group eventually managed to return to Maharashtra as rescue and evacuation operations gathered pace across Nepal.
The experience came against the backdrop of one of Nepal’s worst recent flood disasters, with several areas witnessing large-scale destruction and loss of life.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the death toll in the Bhotekoshi flood disaster had risen to 626, while 2,426 people were still missing.
As of 8 am on Saturday, the Nepal Army and rescue teams had evacuated 2,265 people, including 163 foreign nationals, using Army helicopters. Another 200 people were rescued through ground operations, while 1,706 injured people received treatment at the Emergency Treatment Centre.
The Nepal Army has deployed around 6,700 personnel for rescue and relief operations.
Chitwan accounted for the highest number of recovered bodies and human remains at 233, followed by Nawalparasi East with 158, Nuwakot 51, Gorkha 48, Nawalparasi West 47, Dhading 45, Tanahun 31 and Rasuwa 13.
The missing include 27 Nepal Police personnel, 45 Nepal Army personnel, 13 Armed Police Force personnel, 15 Customs Office personnel and four Immigration Office personnel.
India comes to aid of stranded Indians
India has stepped up its assistance to Nepal, with the third flight carrying relief material reaching Kathmandu on Friday. The supplies were handed over to Nepal minister Mahabir Pun.
An 11-member medical and tunnel rescue team has also been dispatched by India to assist in the relief and rescue operations.
Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel thanked India for its support and solidarity following the calamity. He also expressed condolences over the deaths of Indian nationals in the disaster.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 21 Tamil Nadu residents rescued from Nepal returned to India on Friday, while 63 workers deployed at the Trishuli-I hydropower project were also rescued.
Meanwhile, the Bihar government facilitated the return of around 100 Maharashtra pilgrims stranded in Kathmandu following the flash floods. They were sent towards Maharashtra by train on Saturday.
For Upadhyay and the other Nagpur travellers, however, the Nepal trip will be remembered less for its scenic beauty and more for the anxious two days spent waiting in Kathmandu for a safe route home.
