Last call from Nepal, then silence for Thane family

Thane resident Abhishek Ghone, a 28-year-old working for a travel booking portal, last spoke with his family before embarking on a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar on August 24. However, flash floods in Nepal on Wednesday cut off all communication with his family in Maharashtra's Thane district. Abhishek called home late Tuesday night to inform them that his group would begin the journey early the next morning, just before the disaster occurred.

His father, distressed by the lack of concrete updates from authorities, recounted the family's agony in a Saturday interview. One of Abhishek's friends used AI tools to track his location, suggesting he may be in a safe zone; however, the family remains skeptical of unverified data. Abhishek had planned this pilgrimage for years and was excited about the journey.

The massive flash flood, originating in Tibet, swept through central Nepal, devastating towns and villages, washing away bridges, and crippling hydropower projects. The local tour operator was managing 70 to 80 pilgrims from across India when the extreme weather struck. The family stressed their sole concern is tracing their son amidst the destruction; they are not angry with the administration but only want information about Abhishek's condition.