A group of 106 Vidarbha pilgrims who travelled to Kathmandu on August 19 for a religious retreat returned to Nagpur on Sunday after being stranded in Nepal following devastating flash floods.
“We could not sleep or eat properly. The group began its journey back to India in four buses, travelling towards the border through Bihar. During the journey, they witnessed the impact of the floods firsthand.
Though the worst of the destruction was reported around 100 km away near the Nepal-Tibet border, the pilgrims said they were worried as heavy rain and flooding disrupted routes out of the country. All we could think about was how we were going to escape and reach safely,” said 68-year-old Sushila Munde. Atharva Dusane, 24, who was travelling with his sister and other relatives, said the group at one point feared it would not be able to return home.
“It was so dangerous that at one point, we had given up all hope of ever returning home,” he said, adding that they saw floodwaters and people being swept away. “A bus carrying other tourists was swallowed by the surging waters right in front of our eyes,” said 64-year-old Mangala Kursange.
The evacuation was facilitated by coordinated efforts involving the Maharashtra government.
The chief minister’s office said CM Devendra Fadnavis remained in touch with Nepal MP Sandeep Rana over arrangements for the pilgrims’ safe return.
