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

On Thursday morning, Devki Adhikari received a phone call that would forever be etched in her memory. The brief conversation left her shaken, as she overheard her family in Bhopal frantically discuss the devastating flash floods in Nepal. The family members who had been grappling with the situation were trying to find higher ground by ascending a hill.

As they sought refuge at a local's residence, the house was partially submerged, leaving them with a grim realization that their survival prospects were dimming. With heavy hearts, they conveyed their desperate plea, “The house is half submerged. We will not survive now. Take care of our children.”

The Adhikari family was just one of 29 individuals who had embarked on a pilgrimage to the Gosainkunda pilgrimage site in Nepal for Sawan Purnima. This extended family, comprised of brothers, their wives, sisters, and brothers-in-law, had come together to celebrate the religious event. As the situation unfolded, the Adhikari family received the last call from their loved ones, informing them about their desperate efforts to find higher ground.

The line remained connected, but the voices abruptly ceased, leaving the family in a state of profound despair.

To date, there has been no trace of any of the 29 individuals who had ventured to Nepal. The families of these missing relatives are now anxiously awaiting any news or updates. The death toll from the flash floods in Nepal and Tibet has tragically risen to 538, while 977 people remain missing. Rescue efforts have managed to save 3,742 people so far.

In a recent media briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that 400 Indians on the Chinese side have been accounted for and are safe. However, approximately 320 Indians and over 100 people of Indian origin are still unaccounted for, adding to the already immense grief and concern.