{
  "id": 4175623,
  "title": "Bengal couple escapes as bus turns back near Kerung just before Nepal floods hit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/bengal-couple-escapes-as-bus-turns-back-near-kerung-just-before-nepal",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T11:00:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bengal-couple-escapes-as-bus-turns-back-near-kerung-just-before-nepal-floods-hit-101788001255789.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Wednesday morning around 9:30 am near Nepal's Kerung border, a bus driver's quick thinking may have prevented a tragic loss of life. Anukul Poddar and his wife Reba, both 66, were en route to Tibet when they encountered flash floods. As the driver halted the bus, he warned passengers of the impending disaster and refused to proceed further. Shortly after, the road where they had stopped was swept away by the raging waters. Poddar recounted the harrowing experience, describing the scene as terrifying and acknowledging the driver's decisive action. The couple later learned that another local family from their hometown, traveling with a different group, had already reached the immigration centre and has since gone missing. Both families were part of the same pilgrim team, The Cholo Jai, which had embarked from Kolkata on August 21 for the Kailash-Manasarovar pilgrimage. While the Poddars and their team reached the immigration office in Kathmandu, the other group was still en route. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed that at least 39 West Bengal residents were reported missing due to the floods. The Poddar family is currently staying with Adhikari's sister in Kolkata, as the state government works to ensure their safety and well-being. The whereabouts of the missing couple from the other pilgrim team remain unknown.",
  "summary": "Anukul Poddar, his wife Reba from Bengal were an hour from Nepal’s Kerung immigration centre when their driver turned back, minutes before the area was washed away.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}