‘Could only think about how we were going to escape’: Nepal flood evacuees

A group of 106 pilgrims from Vidarbha, who had traveled to Kathmandu for a religious retreat, returned to Nagpur on Sunday after being stranded in Nepal due to devastating flash floods. The evacuees arrived at Nagpur railway Station aboard the Patna-Nanded Express after being evacuated through Bihar. Four pilgrims had returned to Nagpur a day earlier.

The pilgrimage to the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu was set to begin on August 19, but reports of flash floods in Nepal on August 26 raised concerns about the safety of their return journey.

The pilgrims faced a challenging situation, as heavy rain and flooding disrupted routes out of the country. Sushila Munde, a 68-year-old participant, expressed her fear and uncertainty, stating, “We could not sleep or eat properly. All we could think about was how we were going to escape and reach safely.” Atharva Dusane, a 24-year-old with his sister and other relatives, added, “It was so dangerous at one point that we had given up all hope of ever returning home.”

They witnessed the severity of the floods, with one bus carrying other tourists being swallowed by the rising waters right in front of their eyes.

The evacuation was organized by the Maharashtra government, with CM Devendra Fadnavis closely coordinating with Nepal MP Sandeep Rana for the pilgrims' safe return. Local authorities in Sitamarhi provided the evacuees with food and temporary shelter before they were moved to Patna. Eventually, two dedicated three-tier AC coaches transported the pilgrims to Nagpur, where they were received with relief and gratitude.