Chennai, Tearful embraces, hushed prayers, and narrow escape marked the scene at the airport here as the Nepal flood survivors arrived safely.
The disaster claimed numerous lives and left hundreds missing across the region, including several other Indian travelers. For the Tamil Nadu pilgrims, safety came in the form of a grueling trek to a border police outpost, where local authorities managed to shelter them before facilitating their transit to Kathmandu. They were received at the airport by state Ministers N Anand and D Sarathkumar , who oversaw their immediate welfare and transport home. Some of the survivors shared stories of the devastation they witnessed, noting that entire market areas in Timure were swept away in moments. The incident, which triggered massive landslides and flooding, claimed numerous lives and left hundreds missing, including other Indian travelers. They eventually reached a rescue centre after an arduous two-and-a-half-hour climb through difficult, pathless terrain. The group emphasised the critical role played by the Nepal Army and local authorities in their rescue. They also credited the Tamil Nadu and Central governments for coordinating swift rescue efforts and providing assistance with travel and documentation.
“Within seconds, the water swept away everything.
“It felt like a tsunami falling from the mountains,” said one survivor, trembling as she embraced her weeping family. The entire market area in Timure disappeared right before our eyes,” she said.
