Basirhat couple returns from Nepal, no word yet on Mukul Roy’s daughter-in-law

Anukul Poddar, a retired schoolteacher, and his wife Reba Poddar recently returned to Basirhat, North 24 Parganas district, after a trip to Nepal. They were in the area experiencing flash floods near the Nepal-China border on August 26. Their driver's timely action to take them to a safer location at a higher altitude proved crucial for their survival.

The Poddars recounted their harrowing experience, noting that they did not witness the floods themselves, only observing a white smoke-like phenomenon moving down a river. Despite their relief, many others in the state remain anxiously awaiting updates on several tourists, including Sharmistha Bhowmik Roy. Sharmistha, the wife of former TMC MLA Subhrangshu Roy and daughter-in-law of the late politician Mukul Roy, was part of a 30-member Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage group.

She left Kolkata on August 21 and was reportedly 10 km from the site of the flood when communication with her was lost. As of now, there has been no further update on her whereabouts. The crisis unfolded on August 26 when sudden glacial outbursts and heavy rain triggered severe flash flooding along the Bhotekoshi River basin in Nepal's Rasuwa district.

The flooding caused remote border checkpoints, roadways, and lodging facilities to be washed away, severing critical power lines and mobile network towers near the Kyirong land port.