How a tea break saved five friends from Raipur

Five friends from Chhattisgarh's Raipur escaped a deadly flash flood in Nepal through a simple tea break. The group, aged 50-60, had travelled to Nepal for a holiday on August 21, planning to visit Pashupatinath Temple and other tourist sites. On August 26, while taking a break for tea in Malekhu town, they learned a bridge ahead had been washed away by the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river floods.

Narayan Sen, one of the five, said they narrowly escaped being trapped if they had left 10-15 minutes earlier. The floodwaters swept away cars and bodies in the Trishuli river, causing widespread devastation. The friends sought refuge at the hotel, later learning of the extensive damage to villages, buildings, and hydropower projects.

Local officials and residents helped the stranded travellers, providing food and support. The men maintained contact with their families in India through internet services to ease their anxiety. Local women security personnel also presented each friend with a rakhis, a comforting gesture as they had planned to return after the Raksha Bandhan festival.

Despite the harrowing experience, the group eventually reached home on August 28, feeling immense relief. They attributed their survival to the timely tea break that alerted them to the impending disaster, and the prompt assistance they received from local authorities and residents.