Take care of the children’ – In Bhopal, a family recounts the last chilling phone call from missing relatives

At 9:30 am on Thursday, Devki Adhikari received a chilling phone call from her family in Bhopal. They recounted the flash floods in Nepal and their desperate attempt to climb to higher ground. The family had sought refuge at a local's house, but it had partially submerged, leaving them with no hope of survival. Devki recalls her family's final message: "The house is half submerged. We will not survive now. Take care of our children."

The Adhikari family was among 29 people who had ventured to the Gosainkunda pilgrimage in Nepal for Sawan Purnima. They were an extended family, with brothers, their wives, sisters, brothers-in-law, and other relatives traveling together. Sadly, none of the 29 have been traceable since the tragic incident. The line remained connected, but the voices abruptly ceased, leaving the family in a state of panic, unable to reach their loved ones.

As of now, the death toll from the flash floods in Nepal and Tibet has risen to 538, with 977 people still missing. A total of 3,742 individuals have been rescued so far. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 400 Indians on the Chinese side are confirmed to be safe, while 320 Indians and over 100 people of Indian origin remain unaccounted for. The Adhikari family anxiously awaits any news about their missing relatives, hoping for a miracle to reunite them with their loved ones.