What started as a pilgrimage by way of one of many world’s most majestic mountain landscapes shortly was a terrifying battle for survival for 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu travelling towards Kailash Mansarovar, when devastating flash floods tore through Nepal’s Rasuwagadhi area on August 26.
“It felt like a tsunami falling from the mountains,” one survivor recalled, as torrents of water, mud and particles got here hurtling down the slopes, sweeping away roads, buildings and every thing of their path. The pilgrims have been compelled to desert their journey and scramble up steep, rugged terrain to flee the advancing waters, witnessing the Himalayan panorama round them remodel right into a scene of destruction inside moments.
The destruction was particularly severe in Rasuwagadhi and Timure region, close to the Nepal-China border, the place the market space was swept away.
Amongst these caught within the catastrophe have been ladies from Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirappalli, Vallinayaki and Karpagam, who have been travelling by bus in the direction of the Chinese language border when a large landslide struck.
They recalled seeing a thick, smoke-like cloud of mud, rocks and particles speeding down the mountain. With no quick assist accessible, the 21 passengers escaped by way of the motive force’s aspect and commenced climbing a steep mountainside.
When among the ladies struggled to climb, they used a sari to tug each other up, finally reaching a rescue centre after almost two-and-a-half hours. The group was half of a bigger contingent endeavor the sacred Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and was introduced again to India safely on Friday after the catastrophe.
One other rescued pilgrim from Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam, mentioned the floodwaters got here inside 100 metres of him. Describing the state of affairs as “very severe”, he mentioned, “God helped me” survive the ordeal.
The pilgrims credited the Nepal Military and native authorities with bringing them to security. They have been taken to Kathmandu earlier than travelling to India by way of New Delhi, reaching Chennai on an Air India flight on Friday night time, the place they have been reunited with anxious households.
Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the group in Delhi and mentioned the pilgrims had been rescued by the Nepal Military from a “very tough place”. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu subsequently facilitated their return.
Their secure return got here as India continued efforts to hint nationals affected by the catastrophe. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned 320 Indian nationals remained “uncontactable”, whereas round 100 individuals of Indian origin have been additionally but to be reached.
MEA additionally mentioned that contact had been established with round 400 Indian residents on the Chinese language aspect, all of whom have been secure. “We’re doing every thing doable to make sure the security of our Indian residents and offering all doable help to Nepal as per their request,” MEA spokesperson Jaiswal mentioned.
India has additionally despatched humanitarian help to Nepal, together with meals, medicines, blankets, photo voltaic lamps and different important provides.
In the meantime, Nepal’s flood toll climbed to 626 on Saturday, with 2,426 individuals nonetheless lacking, in response to the nation’s catastrophe authority. The variety of lacking individuals rose considerably from 1,924 reported on Friday night time, whereas the variety of unaccounted overseas nationals remained unchanged at 517, in response to the Nationwide Catastrophe Danger Discount and Administration Authority.
The up to date figures got here three days after the floods tore by way of elements of Nepal, as search and rescue operations continued throughout the worst-hit areas.
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